Abu Bakar Ba'asyir attends Gontor centenary, commends pesantren's role

Ponorogo, East Java - The religious figure Abu Bakar Ba’asyir visited Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor in Ponorogo, East Java, as part of the celebrations for Gontor’s Centenary Anniversary on Saturday.

His presence was part of a series of activities attended by alumni, scholars, and various figures from several regions.

During his visit, Ba’asyim toured several bazaar stalls prepared by the committee and participated in activities marking the 100th anniversary of the pesantren’s establishment.

He expressed his appreciation for Gontor’s long journey and its contributions to the field of education over the past century.

“Congratulations, and may you become even stronger in your pesantren educational endeavours,” he said.

According to him, pesantren play a vital role in shaping character and providing young generations with both scientific knowledge and religious values. Therefore, he hopes that pesantren educational institutions will continue to grow and remain capable of contributing to society.

Ba’asyir also offered prayers for Gontor to continue strengthening its role in the world of Islamic education.

The Gontor Centenary Anniversary was attended by thousands of alumni, students, scholars, as well as several national figures and government officials. Various activities were held during this momentum as a form of gratitude for the long journey of the pesantren, which has been established since 1926.

The Gontor Centenary Anniversary serves as a major milestone marking the pesantren’s contribution to the development of education and human resource development in Indonesia.