NU community to establish NU in Russia

Jakarta, NU Online
Nahdliyin (NU followers) living in Russia have successfully established an organization so-called as the NU Special Branch Board (PCINU) of Russia.

The PCINU presence in the former Soviet Union country was officially declared through a decree issued by the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) No 4711/A.II.03.D/1/2010 for the period 2010-2012.<>

The PCINU was initially established on Monday July 1, 2009 in Moscow and was attended by Nahdliyin in the country. In the meeting, the Nahliyin agreed to soon set up such an organization structure and outlined some purposeful programs.

On account of limited NU followers, the structure was later made quite simple, consisting of both syuriyah (law making body) and tanfidziyah (executive body) without any institutions and autonomous bodies.

Here is the list of the PCINU members:

Syuriyah
Chairman: Syarifuddin Zuhri
Vice chairman: Joni Sutaryono
Secretary: Abdullah

Tanfidiyah
Chairman: Khoirul Rosyadi
Vice chiarman: Darmawan Wicaksono

Secretary: Busron Sodikun
Treasurer: Zainul Munir

Syarifuddin is a religious teacher at the Moscow's Indonesian School while Khoirul Rosyadi has been a PhD student at the People Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) since 2008.

Joni Sutaryono is also a teacher at the Moscow's Indonesian School and Abdullah is an official at the Russia's Indonesian embassy.

Darmawan Wicaksono has still studied at the State Technical University-MADI; Busron Sodikun has still studied at the Faculty of Economics, RUDN; while Zainul Munir has also still concentrated on the Computer Engineering at the Vladimir State University. The three have remained earning their master degrees.

Meanwhile, general chairman of PBNU told NU Online that he greatly appreciated the Nahdliyin initiative to further develop NU in Russia.

"We should also propagate dakwa (preaching) having now increasingly been open following the collapse of communism," he said.

There have so far been many programs carried out by the PCINU such as holding meetings to cultivate relationships among Indonesian nationals in Russia, in addition to having preserved such NU traditions as yasinan (recitation of Sura Yasin) and tahlil.

The PCINU has also taken part in holding various religious gatherings at the Russia's Indonesian embassy, in addition to having routinely held a monthly gathering to discuss religious studies.

Reportedly, they will also publish a book describing the life of Islam in  the Kremlin and many other purposeful programs. (mkf)