Pesantren community was gathered in front of Trans 7’s building demanding an apology to all of Santri in Indonesia for the controversial footage about Pondok Tradition.
By :Iskur Reza
Trans 7 was reportedly boycotted by students and alumni of the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School because of the broadcast of Trans 7 program was considered to be insulting and degrading to the Kiyai's dignity especially Kiyai Haji Anwar Mansyur and the Islamic Boarding School Institution, especially Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School, Kediri.
Trans 7 has been a spotlight recently because it was sharply criticized by student and alumi of Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School, where Trans 7 had a broadcast from Xpose Uncensored, a program with a narrative that degraded the dignity of Kiyai in the Islmic Boarding School Institution on Monday 13 October 2025. It turns out that what was broadcast at the time, especially in the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School. The main point of the objection was the narrative that accompanied the visual of the student respecting their Kiyai by walking on his knees and linking it with the financial Issue. It immediately received a sharp reaction from alumni and students. Finally, a wave of protest and calls for a Boycott of Trans 7 emerged on social media with the hashtag ‘#BOIKOT TRANS 7’.
One of the students with the initial name MAES, an alumnus of Mambaus Sholihin Islamic Boarding School, Gresik, expressed concern about public misunderstanding. “People outside pesantren might find our practices strange because they never studied the same religious books,” he said. He also criticized the way Trans7 issued its apology, stating that “the proper way to apologize is to meet the Kiyai himself directly.”
Another respondent, Thomas Dinata from one of the university students in Central Java, had a different view. He said that it was acceptable as long as the broadcast presented the truth. “It’s fine as long as it voices the truth, even if it becomes controversial,” he said, suggesting that Trans7 should provide clarification to prevent misunderstandings.
Muhammad Rohman Tamimi, a university student, offered a religious perspective, saying that what was portrayed as feudal behavior was actually a form of respect. “If a santri lowers himself before a kyai, that’s adab, not feudalism,” he explained. He urged Trans7 to apologize for the negative framing.
Then the alumni of Lirboyo Himasal and a number of PWNU DKI Jakarta held a demonstration in front of the Trans 7 office and the regional Indonesian broadcasting, or KPID office on Wednesday, 15 October 2025. They demand accountability and an open apology and even the revocation of Trans 7's broadcasting license.
Through the productions director, Andi Chairil Edward. Trans 7 has apologized on their channel and has publicly apologized to the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School. The extended family of caretaker, student and alumni for their negligence in the broadcasting content with such offensive narrative. Even trans 7 has also had a meeting with the representative of Lirboyo Himasal Jabodetabek alumni. Trans 7 has also reportedly ended it’s collaboration with production house that created the content, and it turns out a couple days ago in a viral video from alumni of the Islamic Boarding School they mentioned demand such as an open apology, withdraw or dilatation of the content, sanctions against the producer, editorial team and narrator.
The alumni then also asked trans 7 to broadcast an official clarification and special program regarding the world of Islamic Boarding School, the role of Kiyai and Santri or Student in a comprehensive and balance manner to correct the misunderstanding that already fromed. They also threatened to take legal action and carry out a boycott if their demand were not met.
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