PBNU asserts zero tolerance for violence in Islamic boarding schools
The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), through the Rabithah Ma’ahid Islamiyah (RMI) and the Violence Prevention Task Force (SAKA), has reaffirmed its commitment to zero tolerance regarding acts of violence against students within Islamic boarding school (pesantren) environments.
Speaking in Tangerang, Banten, RMI PBNU Secretary Ulun Nuha stated that the organisation is intensifying its national movement via the ‘Pesantrenku Aman’ (My Pesantren is Safe) roadshow. To ensure practical implementation on the ground, PBNU has introduced a standardised framework covering five essential aspects known as ARKAN, or the Pillars of a Safe Pesantren.
‘Violence can occur anywhere, including in pesantren, and we want to improve ourselves. That is why we are making this declaration today, where religious leaders (kiai) are committing to truly realising safe pesantren,’ he said.
He noted that through the newly rolled-out standardisation, administrators are required to implement clear lineages of knowledge (sanad) sourced from authentic pesantren traditions. Furthermore, the pesantren environment is required to establish child-friendly regulations as part of their caregiving protocols to uphold the rights of students.
‘The kiai have strictly demanded that unlicensed pesantren, or parties unfit to hold the title of pesantren or kiai, are strictly prohibited from conducting education under the name of a pesantren,’ he added. This includes the development of physical facilities to support supervision, such as the installation of CCTV cameras.
He revealed that 15 new cases involving violence and issues regarding the legality of pesantren have been reported to the PBNU Task Force in 2026. While noting that this number is small compared to the total of over 42,800 pesantren, he emphasised the gravity of the situation from the perspective of the victims and justice. ’In Islam, it is stated that killing one person is akin to killing the entire universe. Therefore, if there is even one victim, we cannot say