Jakarta – The Religious Affairs Ministry says it cannot control curriculum at traditional Islamic boarding schools known as pesantren, though some have identified them as nests of radicalism.
Lead ministry researcher Nuhrison M. Nuh said the ministry could not introduce multiculturalism into pesantren because their curriculum were usually designed by local clerics.
"We cannot introduce multiculturalism to pesantren because they are owned by Muslim clerics," he said in a discussion on pesantren radicalization.
Nuhrison said the ministry could not interfere because it could be accused of a human rights violation. Thus, teaching multiculturalism was the responsibility of each pesantren head. "We cannot do anything if they are not under the authority of our ministry," he added.
Nuhrison said the ministry had made efforts to reduce radicalism by holding workshops for pesantren since 2009. "In 2009, we invited 180 pesantren from Lampung, Central Java, East Java, East Kalimantan, Gorontallo and West Nusa Tenggara," he said.
In 2010, pesantren from 20 provinces took part in the workshop. This year's workshop will be held in September.
Nuhrison said that many radical concepts taught in pesantren had Middle Eastern influences. In 2012, the ministry's research and development agency, which Nuhrison chairs, will research students studying in the Middle East, analyzing what foreign concepts they accept during their studies and if those concepts could possibly develop radicalism here.
"We will receive Rp 600 million [US$70,155] next year and conduct research in Pakistan, Egypt and Iran," Nuhrison said.
He said that Indonesia should be like Malaysia, where every student returning home after studying abroad must report to the government.
Dyah Madya Ruth, researcher and director of Lazuardi Birru, an NGO concerned with de-radicalization, said that de-radicalization at pesantren should be based on openness and civil society should be involved.
"Civil society tends to get scared every time they see pesantren students in religious clothes and beards," she said. According to her, society should eliminate this alienating sentiment – a barrier between society and the pesantren community – by talking and treating them like friends.
She cited a recent Lazuardi Birru survey of pesantren in 13 provinces, including Aceh, Riau, North Sumatra, Lampung, Banten, West Java, Central Java and East Java.
"We befriended pesantren heads, students and parents of students to gain access to the schools. Once we were inside, they were very talkative and friendly," Dyah said.
She said that, in general, people tended to see all pesantren members as introverted. However, that is not the case. "This is also a chance to monitor activities in the schools," she added.
She urged the government to take de-radicalizing pesantren more seriously. "The government must make sure that exclusivity among pesantren is eliminated. It also must control pesantren curriculum," Dyah said.
She added that Nuhrison's statement that the ministry was incapable of controlling pesantren curriculum due to the clerics was complete nonsense. "They can control it, because the ministry has a directorate general especially for pesantren. What are they doing so far?" (fem)