DPR Suggests Ministry Of Religion To Collaborate With Police In Investigation Of Madrasas And Islamic Boarding Schools To Prevent Rape Cases

JAKARTA - Commission III of the DPR suggested that the Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas cooperate with the Indonesian National Police (Polri) for a plan to investigate madrasas and Islamic boarding schools. The goal is to prevent the reoccurrence of the rape of 21 female students at the Manarul Huda Antapani Islamic Boarding School, Bandung, West Java.

Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR Ahmad Sahroni assessed that the Ministry of Religion could immediately coordinate with the National Police in carrying out investigations. Because according to him, the involvement of law enforcement is important in educating the pesantren community regarding the criminal aspects of sexual harassment.

"In my opinion, the Ministry of Religion cannot work alone in carrying out this investigation, but it is necessary to involve law enforcement in order to create a good monitoring and reporting system so that similar things do not happen," Sahroni told reporters, Monday, December 12.

"Therefore, I ask the Ministry of Religion to immediately establish communication with the police, so that later the Police can also coordinate directly with their officers," he continued.

The NasDem politician also considered the need for the role of all elements of society in dealing with the problem of sexual violence. This includes protecting santri and Islamic boarding schools from sexual predators.

"So in eliminating sexual violence, the government, the police, and all elements of the government must protect students and Islamic boarding schools from sexual predators," said Sahroni.

The Jakarta electoral district legislator also supports the Minister of Religion in conducting investigations and supervision of other Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia.

"Don't let sexual harassment be like an iceberg phenomenon, where in fact a lot happens. Of course, we don't want educational institutions that should be the safest places for children to seek knowledge, to become predatory nests," said Sahroni.

Previously, Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas stated that the Ministry of Religion was conducting investigations into all educational institutions, both madrasas and Islamic boarding schools.

"What we are worried about is the tip of the iceberg. We are sending a team to see everything by involving the ranks of the Ministry of Religion in their respective regions," said the Minister of Religion in a press statement, Saturday, December 11.

He emphasized that his party will carry out mitigation to all madrasah and Islamic boarding schools. So that there are no cases like those experienced by 12 students in Bandung.

"If there is something similar, we will immediately carry out mitigation. So, don't wait for the incident before moving on. We will investigate all educational institutions," he said.

According to the Minister of Religion, the alleged rape case by one of the leaders of a pesantren in Bandung is now a common problem.