The attitude of rejecting terrorism in pesantren emotionally and excessively will benefit terrorism itself because they will feel safe taking refuge behind the pesantren; besides, it will also strengthen people’s accusations of Islamic boarding schools with terrorism. But, on the other hand, an open attitude towards legal efforts in eradicating terrorists will narrow the hidden space for radical groups and strengthen the public’s belief that Islamic boarding schools are not terrorist nests but religious, educational institutions based on the strength of tradition and society.
