THE recommendation by the West Java Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) that the government close the Al-Zaytun Islamic boarding school, or pesantren, in Indramayu, West Java, is a hasty suggestion. The MUI is using a religious interpretation to pass judgment on the beliefs of Al-Zaytun leader Panji Gumilang, which it is an affront to the principle of religious freedom in Indonesia.

At present, there are 5,429 students at Al-Zaytun, from ibtidaiyah (