NU Clerics in Banyuwangi Urge Government to Tighten Islamic Boarding School Permits

Senior clerics (masyayikh) and caretakers of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Islamic boarding schools across Banyuwangi Regency are urging the government to tighten licensing for pesantren and to prohibit institutions without official permits from conducting education under the guise of a pesantren. The demand was one of the main recommendations from the Halaqah of Masyayikh and Islamic Boarding School Caretakers in Banyuwangi Regency, held at Darussalam Blokagung Islamic Boarding School on Friday (10/7/2026).

The event, organised by the Rabithah Ma’ahid Islamiyah (RMI) of PBNU together with the PBNU’s Task Force for Handling Violence in Pesantren (SAKA) and RMI PCNU Banyuwangi, was part of the ‘My Safe Pesantren National Movement’ series. The halaqah was attended by senior kiai and caretakers of NU pesantren throughout Banyuwangi, and was joined online by PBNU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf and PBNU Chair Alissa Wahid.

RMI PBNU Chairman KH Hodri Ariev stated that efforts to prevent violence in pesantren must be viewed from two sides: internal and external. Internally, he said, pesantren need to conduct joint evaluations to produce recommendations that can serve as a reference in violence prevention. ‘Externally, synergy between various institutions is crucial in addressing and taking wiser steps,’ Kiai Hodri said in a press release on Sunday (12/7/2026).

A similar view was expressed by RMI PBNU Secretary and one of the leaders of SAKA Pesantren PBNU, Gus Ulun Nuha. He identified three phenomena of common concern: cases of violence in pesantren, the massive coverage of violence, especially on social media, and a growing public impatience in dealing with such issues. ‘These three phenomena are our collective responsibility to address with positive attitudes and initiatives,’ he said.

The halaqah, guided by KH Agus Muhammad, produced a number of recommendations. In addition to asking the government to tighten permits for establishing pesantren and to ban illegal pesantren from operating, participants also encouraged every Islamic boarding school to form a special internal task force.