NU Forbids DNA Commercialization without Owner's Consent

RRI.CO.ID, Jombang – The world’s largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has stated that Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) data in humans is not merely a collection of biological information about an individual, as it contains the owner's specific information, including information about their family and descendants. Therefore, under Islamic principles, DNA data cannot be freely commercialized without the owner's consent.

The statement was among the decisions reported during a session discussing current religious issues (Bahtsul Masail Waqi'iyah) at the 35th NU Muktamar (Congress) at Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas Islamic Boarding School, Jombang, East Java, on Saturday, August 29, 2026. The Chairperson of the Bahtsul Masail Institute of the NU Central Executive Board and the session's chair, Mahbub Maafi, presented the decision.

The first question at the forum was whether DNA data taken from a person’s body could be considered legitimate personal property that may be commercially exploited. The commission concluded that DNA data obtained from the body constitutes the DNA owner's privacy right and may not be commercialized without the owner’s permission.

“Meanwhile, commercializing DNA data, whether by the DNA owner or by a corporation with the owner’s permission, is permissible through the iwadh fi muqabalah al-idzni (compensation in exchange for granting consent) scheme, provided that it is not misused,” NU’s official media outlet, NU Online, reported on Saturday.

The second question concerned granting permission to certain parties, such as commercial corporations or DNA-testing platforms, when the data also contains specific information about family members and descendants that could potentially have harmful consequences in the future. Mahbub emphasized that the owner’s consent is an important boundary in this matter.

“Can DNA that has been taken be considered legitimate personal property that can be commercialized? The answer is that DNA data obtained from the body constitutes the privacy right of the DNA owner. Therefore, it cannot be commercialized without the owner’s permission. That is important,” he said.

Mahbub said commercialization remains possible as long as permission is obtained and the data is not misused. Such commercialization is permitted, whether carried out by the DNA owner or by a corporation.

“Yes, DNA commercialization is permitted, but with the condition that the owner’s permission must be obtained. It is allowed. The scheme uses iwadh fi muqabalatil idzni, provided that the data must not be misused. This is one of the decisions, and, thank God, it was agreed upon,” he said.