Jakart (ANTARA News) - An organization affiliated to Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Rabithah Ma`ahid Islamiyah (RMI NU), is to organize a meeting of leaders of Islamic boarding schools (pondok pesantren) across the country to discuss "the threat of transnational ideology," a spokesman said. Abdul Adhim, vice chairman of RMI NU, said here Wednesday the conference would be held at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory on May 18-21. He said the transnational ideology which had been "imported" from abroad had threatened the integrity of the nation and Islamic boarding schools because it promoted attitudes that were not suited to social and cultural conditions in Indonesia. "Indonesian Islam which was taught by the Walisongo (Nine Great Propagators of Islam in Java) was imbued with the spirit of tolerance and civility. But the transnational Islamic ideology entered our country in uncivil ways, shouting Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) with their mouths and smashing glass ware with their hands," he said. RMI NU as an organization grouping 14,000 Islamic boarding schools under the aegis of NU felt co-responsible for the entry of the imported ideology which would disrupt the integrity of the Unitary State of the Repubic of Indonesia, he said. Besides the threat of the transnational ideology, the meeting which was to be opened by Vice President Jusuf Kalla would also discuss the fate of Islamic boarding schools which was not getting proper attention from the government, Adhim said. Islamic boarding schools were being discriminated against by the government although they were an integral part of the country`s education system and thus had the same rights as the other types of educational institutions. Most graduates of Islamic boarding schools were not yet recognized by the government. Only two Islamic boarding schools aunder RMI NU`s auspices, namely Sidogiri Islamic boarding school in Pasuruan and Lirboyo boarding school in Kediri, were acknowledged by the government. "Yet, in terms of quality, graduates from Islamic boarding schools are not second to those from other schools," he said. Islamic boarding schools were also receivig little material assistance from the government. Therefore, at the forthcoming meeting, the RMI NU executive board would also signs a few memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the government represented by a few ministers, Adhim said. (*)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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