PBNU Ready To Accommodate Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School Santri When Closed

Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf (ANTARA/Sean Filo Muhamad)

JAKARTA - The Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board stated that his party is ready to accommodate the Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes) students led by Panji Gumilang if the law decides to close the boarding school.

"NU itself is ready if it is ordered to accommodate the students later," said PBNU General Chair Yahya Cholil Staquf as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 2.

The man who is familiarly called Gus Yahya said NU has many educational institutions that can accommodate Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School students, if the boarding school is closed.

According to him, it is not only NU that is able to accommodate Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School students, but also other Islamic religious organizations.

However, he stated that his party was not in a hurry to make decisions regarding the shelter because it appreciated the ongoing legal process.

"Legally, what if (the law decides) closes, then close. If (the law decides) no, no, no," he said.

According to him, education is an important issue, however, his party is waiting for legal decisions and the government regarding this matter.

Previously, the Head of the Al Zaytun Panji Gumilang Islamic Boarding School was named a suspect in the alleged criminal act of blasphemy by investigators from the Directorate of General Crimes (Dittipidum) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police.

This resulted in a prolonged polemic regarding the future of the students who received education at the boarding school.