PBNU Issues Seven Demands to Trans7, Defends the Dignity of Pesantren

Jakarta, MINA — Rabithah Ma’ahid Islamiyah (RMI), the pesantren council under Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), has issued seven formal demands to television network Trans7 following the broadcast of Xpose Uncensored, which accused Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) of engaging in practices resembling slavery.

In its statement on Tuesday, RMI PBNU said the program gravely offended students, teachers, and the broader pesantren community, arguing that it contained slander, hate speech, and misleading narratives.

“The broadcast hurt the hearts of santri (students) and pesantren families with slander, hate speech, and narrative framing that does not reflect reality,” the statement said.

RMI PBNU outlined the following points:

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1. Condemnation of the program for portraying kyai (religious leaders) and pesantren in a negative light.
2. A public apology from Trans7 and its media network, to be delivered within 24 hours of October 14.
3. Immediate suspension and review of the Xpose Uncensored program as part of responsible broadcasting.
4. Exploration of legal measures through PBNU’s Legal Aid body (LPBH PBNU) against Trans7.
5. A call for journalistic integrity, urging media outlets to uphold professional ethics in reporting and their content creation.
6. An appeal to santri and pesantren families to voice concerns in an orderly and lawful manner.
7. A reaffirmation of RMI PBNU’s commitment to defend pesantren and protect their dignity.

RMI PBNU emphasized its role as the central coordinating council for pesantren across Indonesia and vowed to protect the dignity of these institutions.

Hilmy Muhammad (Gus Hilmy), a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) from Yogyakarta, also criticized the broadcast. He described the Trans7 coverage as insulting to pesantren traditions and misrepresenting the role of kyai.

According to him, what was framed as “exploitation” is, in reality, part of the pesantren’s educational culture. Santri often engage in communal chores or service (khidmah) as a way of building discipline, humility, and social responsibility. This, he argued, cannot be equated with forced labor.

He added that many pesantren provide free education, food, and lodging, and that the program’s portrayal was misleading and damaging to the long-standing reputation of Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia.

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The episode, aired on Monday, showed footage of students working without pay and suggested an imbalance of power between kyai and santri. The broadcast sparked widespread backlash from pesantren communities, alumni networks, and the public, many of whom accused Trans7 of violating journalistic ethics and distorting the image of pesantren.

In response, some pesantren institutions and alumni groups have even called for a boycott of the channel, viewing the program as an attack on one of Indonesia’s most vital Islamic educational traditions.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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