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Islamic preacher Panji Gumilang under fire over unorthodox views
Panji Gumilang, head of the Al-Zaytun school in Indramayu, West Java, was named a suspect by police on Tuesday, national police official Djuhandhani Rahardjo told reporters, and faces a maximum 10 years in prison if found guilt of blasphemy and hate speech.
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Panji Gumilang, the leader of Pondok Pesantren Al-Zaytun in Indramayu, West Java, greets journalists as he arrives on July 3, 2023, for questioning at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) in Jakarta. Panji was summoned by the police to clarify blasphemy allegations made against the pesantren (Islamic boarding school) he founded. (Antara/Laily Rahmawaty)
T
he National Police have brought blasphemy and hate speech charges against the head of a controversial Islamic boarding school in West Java, following public uproar over its teachings, including unorthodox treatment of women and use of Hebrew.
Panji Gumilang, head of the Al-Zaytun school in Indramayu, West Java, was named a suspect by police on Tuesday, national police official Brig. Gen. Djuhandhani Rahardjo told reporters, and faces a maximum 10 years in prison if found guilt of blasphemy and hate speech.
Founded in 1996 and home to roughly 5,000 students, the boarding school has caused a stir with practices like allowing men and women to pray alongside each other, and women to become preachers, which are uncommon in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Indonesia does not follow Islamic law and the country has a tradition of pluralism and moderate Islam, although more conservative interpretations of the religion have gained ground since the fall of Suharto in 1998.
The Indonesian Ulema Council said some of Al-Zaytun's practices were a "wrong interpretation of the Koran", referring to Islam's holy book. In June it said it was investigating the school for "misguided religious practices".
Panji, 77, has defended the school, saying in a recent interview with Metro TV that women and men were equal according to his interpretation of the Koran.
Rights groups have slammed the use of the blasphemy law in the country which they say curbs religious freedoms in a multi-faith country that only officially recognises six religions.
