'Controversial Indonesian madrasa had link to radical group'
Authorities cannot invoke the antiterror law yet against the school despite its alleged radical teachings.
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) said a controversial madrasa or traditional Islamic school currently under investigation for radicalism had a historic affiliation with a known radical group in the nation.
BNPT Deradicalisation Director Ahmad Nurwakhid, in a statement Saturday (July 8), said his agency and others are currently reviewing whether the Al Zaytun Islamic Boarding School is still linked to the radical group, Negara Islam Indonesia (Islamic State of Indonesia) or NII.
"The problem is whether it (the link) still exists today, of course this is still in the process of being reviewed by the BNPT together with other relevant stakeholders," said Nurwakhid.
Even though there is a historical connection, Nurwakhid explained that the BNPT cannot immediately invoke the Law on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism against the school.
This is because the NII has not been included in the List of Suspected Terrorism and Terrorism Organisations or DTTOT without a court order.
"That's why, looking at the historical and ideological aspects and the movements that still exist today, of course we encourage NII to be included in the DTTOT so that it can be charged under the Law on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism," he said.
However, after a legal reform and repeal of the Anti-Subversion Law Number 11/PNPS/1963, the state does not have any legal instruments to ensnare these movements and organisations.
Nurwakhid said the handling of Al Zaytun should be carried out holistically and collaboratively with both general and special criminal law approaches with sufficient evidence.
BNPT, he explained, plays a role in supervision and monitoring with related institutions in order to determine Al Zaytun's linkage with the NII network.
"However, the other most important thing that should be considered is mitigation and coaching, especially for students and creating conditions to ensure stability of Kamtibmas," he said, using an Indonesian acronym for community peace and civility.
He also said Al Zaytun leader Abu Toto alias Panji Gumilang had made various controversial statements that were considered insulting to religion.
Currently, the police’s Criminal Investigation Agency are reportedly investigating allegations of criminal blasphemy, hate speech and the spread of fake news against Gumilang.
Last month, an official of the police’s counterterrorism force described the school as the “embryo of a terrorist group” and said that the teachings propounded by the NII included mobilising funds in the name of distorted Islamic teachings.
Apart from that, distorted interpretations of Qur'anic verses as well as the notion of takfiri or deeming as infidels groups outside the NII were found in their teachings, said the official.