Chairman of MUI Fatwa Division Affirms that Lesti and Rizky Billar Did Not Commit Public Deception, Here's the Explanation

Kapanlagi.com - In recent weeks, it has been widely reported that the couple Lesti and Rizky Billar have committed public deception. As it is known, they held a series of wedding events broadcast live on private television stations in August. However, shortly after, they admitted that they had already held a secret marriage a few months earlier.

The confession of the secret marriage has made the public feel deceived, especially since Lesti is currently pregnant. There is even a woman named Mila Machmudah who intends to report Leslar to the police for being considered a liar.

During this commotion, it was confirmed by the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) Fatwa Division, Asrorun Ni'am Sholeh, that Leslar did not commit deception. Because the repetition of marriage or tajdidun nikah for the purpose of state registration is a normal thing.

"If there is a tajdidun nikah for the purpose of obtaining a marriage certificate, it does not invalidate the previous marriage. This means that if there is a secret marriage, and then another marriage in front of the Civil Registry, it is not public deception. So there is no issue at all in the context of fiqh and the Law," said Asrorun when met at his office in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Saturday (10/9/2021).

1. Live on Television as Part of Propagation

Lesti and Rizky Billar © KapanLagi.com/Budy Santoso

The second live ceremony on television is not intended to deceive the public. It is more interpreted as a form of propagation that Lesti and Rizky Billar have officially married and recorded by the government.

"There is no public deception, it is actually part of propagation. Marriage is one of the sunnah to spread the message, that's why there is a recommendation for a walimah, the importance of sharing happiness, and announcing that I am already halal, already legal as a husband and wife relationship," said Asrorun Ni'am Sholeh.

On that occasion, the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council's Fatwa Division stated that the public should no longer assume that secret marriages are done to hide something. Sometimes it is done out of necessity due to several reasons.

"Sometimes people simplify that secret marriage is an effort to hide, an effort to avoid permission for polygamy, which creates vulnerability for women. The fact is, secret marriages are not always motivated by such bad intentions. Sometimes it is due to difficulties in accessing documents because of the distance," he added.

(kpl/abs/tdr)