West Java Muslim school accused of militancy by MUI<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Top Muslim authorities have linked the Al-Zaytun Islamic boarding
\nschool to an outlawed militant movement that violently struggled
\nfor the establishment of an Indonesian Islamic State (NII) during
\nthe post-colonial period from 1949 to 1962.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) said on Wednesday that
\nthe links were uncovered after almost two years of investigation
\ninto the controversial pesantren in the West Java town of
\nIndramayu.<\/p>\n
"There is a strong indication that Al-Zaytun is historically
\nconnected with the ninth regional military command (KW9) of Darul
\nIslam that campaigned for NII," MUI secretary general Dien
\nSyamsuddin told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
"The close connections are particularly clear from the
\nbackgrounds of its top leader A.S. Panji Gumilang and several
\nothers at the pesantren, who were involved in NII," he added.<\/p>\n
Dien said Darul Islam had a policy of "by any means
\nnecessary", which included things not permitted under Islamic
\nlaw, for its followers to raise funds for its struggle.<\/p>\n
The outlawed Islamic movement also advocated the "leadership
\nideology", under which its students must respect their religious
\nteachers more than their parents, he added.<\/p>\n
But Dien said the investigative team of MUI did not find
\nevidence that Al-Zaytun had adopted the deviant principles of
\nDarul Islam in its teachings.<\/p>\n
Ma'ruf Amin, who led the inquiry team, was quoted by Antara as
\ntelling a news conference earlier on Wednesday that Darul Islam
\nspread heretical teachings of Islam and considered Muslims and
\nothers outside its group as "infidels".<\/p>\n
Parents and others have alleged that Al-Zaytun serves as the
\nninth regional military command of Darul Islam led by Sekarmaji
\nMarijan Kartosuwiryo.<\/p>\n
The school has also been accused of accepting funds from
\nformer presidents Soeharto and B.J. Habibie, their families and
\nformer allies, as well as other financial sources at home and
\noverseas linked to extremist Muslim groups.<\/p>\n
A former Darul Islam follower told the Post that Panji
\nGumilang was one of the movement's senior leaders.<\/p>\n
Panji, who also chairs the alumni association of Jakarta's
\nSyarif Hidatullah State Islamic University (UIN), has flatly
\ndismissed All the accusations as "rubbish".<\/p>\n
Panji also refused to reveal details about his life as well as
\nhis political and social activities before establishing Al-
\nZaytun.<\/p>\n
Dien further said the investigative team also failed to track
\ndown and uncover the funding sources of the immensely wealthy
\nIslamic boarding school.<\/p>\n
Panji admitted that Al-Zaytun received contributions from
\nforeign sources, but said this made up less than 1 percent of the
\ntotal funding.<\/p>\n
Most of the contributions were given by domestic donors, he
\nsaid last year, refusing to be more specific.<\/p>\n
Ma'ruf said the main problem with the school, home to more
\nthan 7,000 students, surfaced following the alleged links of
\nPanji and its 20 other founders with NII.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, regional executives at the school in charge of
\nstudent recruitment are also believed to have close links with
\nthe movement, Ma'ruf added.<\/p>\n
However, he admitted the team was never received by Panji to
\nclarify the accusations. Ma'ruf did not elaborate further.<\/p>\n
Dien said the MUI is considering summoning the school's
\nleaders to verify the team's findings.<\/p>\n
The council urged relevant authorities to take necessary
\naction to deal with the school to prevent anything untoward from
\nhappening.<\/p>",
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