The Al-Mukmin Islamic boarding school also known as Pesantren Al-Mukmin and Pondok Ngruki, is a pesantren ('Islamic boarding school') located in Ngruki, a suburb in the regency of Sukoharjo, Central Java, Indonesia. It was founded 1972 by the alleged 'spiritual head' of Jemaah Islamiyah, Abu Bakar Bashir, and by Abdullah Sungkar. Al-Mukmin's activities were initially limited to religious discussion after dhuhr (midday prayer). Following increasing interest, the founders expanded Al-Mukmin into a madrasah ('Islamic school') and then into a pesantren. It currently houses over 2000 students aged between 12 and 18.[1][2]
A number of people linked to the school have been implicated in a series of Sunni Islamist terrorist attacks; the International Crisis Group has described the school as an "Ivy League" for Jemaah Islamiyah recruits.[3] Pictures of AK47s are hung in hallways, and a sign above a classroom reads:[4]
"Death in the way of Allah is our highest aspiration."
"Live as a noble man or die as a martyr."
Teachers at the school have included:
Among the school's graduates are:[3]
Connected to the 2002 Bali bombing which killed 202 people.
Connected to the 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing which killed 12 people and wounded 150 plus.
Connected to the 2009 Jakarta bombings was;
