During a ceremony in the largely Hindu province of Bali, the daughter of Indonesia's first president, Soekarno, converted from Islam to Hinduism.

Soekarno's third daughter, Diah Mutiara Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, became a Hindu on Oct. 26 during a Sudhi Wadani ceremony at the Soekarno Center in Buleleng district.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, just about 50 visitors — largely family members — attended her 70th birthday party, which was held amid tight security.

 

Sukmawati, the founder of the Indonesian National Party and sister of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the country's fifth president, was said to have converted to Hinduism since her Balinese grandmother was a devotee.

Her conversion also comes after she was accused of uttering "blasphemous" statements about Islam a few years ago.

Several groups reported her to the police in 2018 when she penned and performed a poem at a fashion event.
She allegedly mocked Sharia law, the Muslim call to prayer, and the niqab face covering.

 

She was arrested again in 2019 after giving a speech to commemorate National Heroes Day in which she allegedly compared her father to the Prophet Muhammad.

"Was it the Prophet Muhammad or Soekarno who battled for [Indonesia's] freedom in the twentieth century?" she wondered.

She had previously been overheard asking, "Which is better, Pancasila or the Quran?"
pertaining to the idea of the national state and the holy book of Islam

The cases were withdrawn, however, due to a lack of evidence.

 

A lawyer who submitted one of the accusations in 2019, Novel Chaidir Hasan Bamukmin, said he was not surprised by her conversion.

"However, I should be grateful that she has finally expressed her religious beliefs.
I used to be so perplexed by her religion.
He told UCA News, "It was reported she was a Muslim, but she insulted Islam."

Sukmawati's conversion was respected by Abdul Mu'ti, general secretary of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organisation.

"It's her choice."
She has chosen Hinduism as her religion.
I hope she finds happiness and peace,” he told UCA News.

I thought you had to born into Hinduism?