The Pesantren Archipelago
By Nathanael Sumaktoyo for New Mandala, Dec 1, 2025
Excerpt
On 29 September 2025 a multi-story musala (prayer space) collapsed at Pesantren Al-Khoziny in Sidoarjo, East Java, killing at least 61 people. A similar tragedy occurred again about a month later on 29 October, when the roof of a female student dormitory collapsed at Pesantren Syekh Abdul Qodir Jaelani in Situbondo, East Java, claiming the life of one student.
The level of anger and breadth of debate that followed—from demands for criminal investigations and critiques of pesantren governance structures to reflections on how pesantren constitute a distinct subculture within Indonesia’s educational and social systems—illustrate common perceptions about the importance of pesantren in Indonesian society. Observers have argued that pesantren occupy a key role in shaping grassroots political outcomes, whether through the political socialisation of santri (students), the broader authority of pesantren networks in local governance and policy debates, or the general political influence of kyai (religious leaders)…
Read the full piece at https://www.newmandala.org/the-pesantren-archipelago.
Featured image credit: Antara News, Aerial photo of the joint recovery team removing rubble in the search for victims of the September 29, 2025 collapse of the prayer hall at Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes), Buduran District, Sidoarjo, East Java, Saturday (October 4, 2025). ANTARA FOTO/Umarul Faruq/YU/am, https://m.antaranews.com/berita/5156721/kedubes-arab-saudi-sampaikan-belasungkawa-insiden-ponpes-al-khoziny.
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