West Java Muslim school accused of militancy by MUI

West Java Muslim school accused of militancy by MUI

Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Top Muslim authorities have linked the Al-Zaytun Islamic boarding
school to an outlawed militant movement that violently struggled
for the establishment of an Indonesian Islamic State (NII) during
the post-colonial period from 1949 to 1962.

The Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) said on Wednesday that
the links were uncovered after almost two years of investigation
into the controversial pesantren in the West Java town of
Indramayu.

"There is a strong indication that Al-Zaytun is historically
connected with the ninth regional military command (KW9) of Darul
Islam that campaigned for NII," MUI secretary general Dien
Syamsuddin told The Jakarta Post.

"The close connections are particularly clear from the
backgrounds of its top leader A.S. Panji Gumilang and several
others at the pesantren, who were involved in NII," he added.

Dien said Darul Islam had a policy of "by any means
necessary", which included things not permitted under Islamic
law, for its followers to raise funds for its struggle.

The outlawed Islamic movement also advocated the "leadership
ideology", under which its students must respect their religious
teachers more than their parents, he added.

But Dien said the investigative team of MUI did not find
evidence that Al-Zaytun had adopted the deviant principles of
Darul Islam in its teachings.

Ma'ruf Amin, who led the inquiry team, was quoted by Antara as
telling a news conference earlier on Wednesday that Darul Islam
spread heretical teachings of Islam and considered Muslims and
others outside its group as "infidels".

Parents and others have alleged that Al-Zaytun serves as the
ninth regional military command of Darul Islam led by Sekarmaji
Marijan Kartosuwiryo.

The school has also been accused of accepting funds from
former presidents Soeharto and B.J. Habibie, their families and
former allies, as well as other financial sources at home and
overseas linked to extremist Muslim groups.

A former Darul Islam follower told the Post that Panji
Gumilang was one of the movement's senior leaders.

Panji, who also chairs the alumni association of Jakarta's
Syarif Hidatullah State Islamic University (UIN), has flatly
dismissed All the accusations as "rubbish".

Panji also refused to reveal details about his life as well as
his political and social activities before establishing Al-
Zaytun.

Dien further said the investigative team also failed to track
down and uncover the funding sources of the immensely wealthy
Islamic boarding school.

Panji admitted that Al-Zaytun received contributions from
foreign sources, but said this made up less than 1 percent of the
total funding.

Most of the contributions were given by domestic donors, he
said last year, refusing to be more specific.

Ma'ruf said the main problem with the school, home to more
than 7,000 students, surfaced following the alleged links of
Panji and its 20 other founders with NII.

Furthermore, regional executives at the school in charge of
student recruitment are also believed to have close links with
the movement, Ma'ruf added.

However, he admitted the team was never received by Panji to
clarify the accusations. Ma'ruf did not elaborate further.

Dien said the MUI is considering summoning the school's
leaders to verify the team's findings.

The council urged relevant authorities to take necessary
action to deal with the school to prevent anything untoward from
happening.