Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) praised the National Police's response to the case involving Al Zaytun Boarding School's manager, Panji Gumilang.

"MUI commends the measures undertaken by the National Police, particularly the Criminal Investigation Agency, which has been very responsive and quick in resolving Panji Gumilang's case," the head of MUI's Study and Research Unit, Utang Ranuwijaya, said in a statement received here on Wednesday.

On Monday, the Criminal Investigation Agency summoned Gumilang to provide a clarification on allegations of blasphemous activities. The agency's directorate of general crimes is pursuing further investigation into Gumilang.

According to Ranuwijaya, the National Police's speedy handling of the case can help address the uproar triggered by the issue.

He said he expects Gumilang's case to be cleared soon so that the relevant stakeholders can make a decision regarding the future of Al Zaytun as an educational institution.

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Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, said that the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) will dig deeper into the allegations of Al Zaytun Boarding School's connection with Islamic State Indonesia (NII).

"Let BNPT dig deeper consistently, and we will always monitor Islamic State Indonesia. Because its (Al Zaytun's) history cannot be buried away," he added.

He said that an investigation will be carried out, considering that the history of Al Zaytun's creation is tied to NII.

"In the past, (Al Zaytun's) creation was initiated from Islamic State Indonesia's 9th compartment idea. But in its development, it became — at least what we see physically— an ordinary education institution. However, what lingers beneath it all is being investigated, since the history was like that," the minister added.

Director of general crimes at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Djuhandhani Raharjo Puro, said that neither existing nor former state officials are backing the boarding school.

"No one (involved). Who? For the time being, no one," he added.

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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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