Kemenag: Perpetrators of Sexual Violence at Ponpes Ndolo Kusumo Must Be Punished Severely

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion encourages law enforcement officers to impose a firm punishment on perpetrators of sexual violence at the Ndolo Kusumo Islamic Boarding School, Pati Regency, Central Java because it has tarnished religious, educational, and moral values.

"We ask that the alleged perpetrators of sexual violence at the Ndolo Kusumo Islamic Boarding School be prosecuted. We do not tolerate any acts of sexual violence, especially in religious educational institutions," said the Director of the Kemenag Islamic Boarding School, Basnang Said, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 4.

As an initial step to support the law enforcement process, the Ministry of Religion instructed the registration process for new students at the pesantren to be temporarily stopped.

This step was taken by the Pesantren Directorate to ensure that the investigation process by the police was a priority in order to maintain order and child protection, as well as improving the institutional governance of the pesantren.

"We recommend a temporary suspension of the registration of new students at the pesantren in question until all problems are fully resolved," he said.

The Ministry of Religion will oversee the handling of the case until there is certainty that the child care, protection, and institutional governance systems have met the standards set.

In addition to the termination of registration, the Ministry of Religion recommended that teachers/nannies of pesantren who were suspected of being perpetrators of sexual violence be dismissed.

Pesantren is asked to appoint new educators/nannies who have capacity, moral integrity, and readiness to carry out the function of caring for and educating students full time for 24 hours.

"We ask the suspect who is undergoing the legal process not to carry out his duties as a caretaker/headmaster or educational staff of the pesantren to optimize the function of caring for students at this time," said Basnang Said.

In addition, the perpetrators were asked not to live in the environment of the pesantren.

If the pesantren does not comply with the demand, the Ministry of Religion through the Central Java Regional Office can propose the deactivation of the pesantren's registration mark.

Minister of Empowerment of Women and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi emphasized that the legal process must go hand in hand with the full fulfillment of the rights of victims in cases of sexual violence in pondok pesantren.

"We encourage law enforcement officials to handle this case firmly, transparently, and fairly," he said.

His party highlighted the implementation of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes (TPKS Law).

There is an alleged sexual abuse of dozens of female students by the kiai of Pondok Pesantren Ndholo Kusumo, Tlogosari Village, Tlogowungu District, Pati Regency. The victims generally are still sitting in the seventh to ninth grade of SMP.

Some of them are orphans or children from poor families who depend on free education at the pesantren. Pati Police have named the kiai with the initials AS as a suspect.