Amar expressed optimism that Pesantren would persistently promote the hubbul wathon minal iman (love for the Motherland is part of faith), which is the hallmark of Islamic boarding schools, the agency noted in a statement here on Monday.
"Hence, with the principle of hubbul wathon minal iman, which has been a characteristic feature of boarding schools in East Java, in particular, and Indonesia, in general, we can continue to encourage our young generation," Amar emphasized.
The BNPT head had visited and engaged in talks with the leaders of East Java's Pesantren, such as the Tebuireng and Bahrul Ulum Islamic boarding schools in Jombang on Saturday (Oct 24, 2020), Al-Ikhlas, Nurul Karomah, and Sidogiri Islamic Boarding Schools in Pasuruan.
The talks were part of BNPT's efforts to establish synergy with religious scholars, he stated.
Amar was upbeat about Pesantren becoming an educational hub for the younger generation to endeavor to strike a balance between thriving and upholding religious values.
The former Papua police chief noted that the underlying reason for BNPT’s keenness to visit the Pesantren was the aspiration for boarding schools to have high resilience in responding to radicalism and intolerance.
"This is because these ideas may sometimes also permeate the minds of students at boarding schools," he pointed out.
Amar is optimistic that the synergy between BNPT and Islamic boarding schools would make it easier for educational figures at schools in future to become BNPT partners in the context of countering terrorism.
On the occasion, KH Syafi, familiarly called Gus Syafi, leader of the Nurul Karomah Islamic Boarding School at Rejoso, Pasuruan, lauded the BNPT’s visit.
He also concurred with the BNPT head that the boarding school could potentially partner with the agency in future. Related news: VP seeks LDII's participation in deradicalization program
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Translator: M Arief Iskandar, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
