October 15, 2025 | 12:17 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of alumni from Islamic boarding schools gathered at the Transmedia building in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Wednesday morning, October 15, 2025, in a protest titled “Silaturahim dan Meruwat Trans7” (Strengthening and Nurturing Trans7).
The demonstration was sparked by a segment aired on the Xpose Uncensored program by Trans7 on Monday, October 13, 2025, which protesters claimed insulted kiai (Islamic clerics) and santri (students at Islamic boarding schools).
Tempo reporters observed that the demonstration, organized by officials from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), began around 10:00 AM.
The participants were dressed in traditional santri attire, including black peci caps, white koko shirts, and batik sarongs. Several demonstrators carried banners reading “Boycott Trans7.”
A narrator on a command vehicle led chants urging a boycott of the channel. “Boycott, boycott, boycott Trans7,” the narrator shouted, with demonstrators echoing the call.
The narrator accused Trans7 of disrespecting Islamic boarding schools and portraying their culture negatively. Protesters demanded that Trans7 owner Chairul Tanjung appear in person to address their concerns.
“Chairul Tanjung, come out!” the crowd repeatedly chanted.
According to an invitation letter obtained by Tempo, the protest was expected to be attended by NU Secretary Lukman Hakim Hamid, NU Jakarta Chairman Samsul Maarif, and other NU officials.
The controversy centers on the Xpose Uncensored program about Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo in East Java. The segment compiled videos and images of interactions between santri and kiai, highlighting issues such as one segment titled “Wealthy Kiai, but Devotees Giving Envelopes.”
The footage showed students shaking hands with the kiai and handing him envelopes, accompanied by a voice-over suggesting that the practice enriched the cleric.
The narration also referenced luxury cars and expensive sarongs, claiming costs ranged from Rp400,000 to Rp 12 million, without citing any sources or verifying the allegations.
In response, Trans7 issued an apology through an official statement posted on their YouTube channel on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Andi Chairil, Director of Production at Trans7, acknowledged negligence in failing to properly censor content from external contributors but said the network would take responsibility.
“We have directly apologized to Kiai Anwar Mansyur’s son, Adib Fuad, to be conveyed directly to Kiai Anwar Mansyur,” he stated.
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