Sad! Violence Under The Guise Of Religious Education, Two Boys Found Stuck In The Terrace Of A House In Boyolali

Head Of Criminal Investigation Unit AKP Joko Purwadi/ Photo: Central Java Police/ VOI

BOYOLALI A heartbreaking event resurfaced in the community. Two boys were found in a state of concern their legs tied with iron and padlocks, asleep on the terrace of the house in a state of hunger. Ironically, this incident occurred in a place claimed to be a religious educational institution.

The incident was accidentally revealed on Sunday morning (13/7/2025) in Dukuh Mojo, Andong District, Boyolali Regency. Residents initially suspected that there was an act of theft of charity boxes, but what they found was much more surprising: evidence of violence against children under the care of a local religious figure.

The police stated that the house belonging to the suspect with the initials SP (60) had been known by residents as a place to study religion, a kind of informal boarding school. However, not a single official permit was found, and the management was closed.

"The persecution under the guise of teaching cannot be justified. Moreover, the victims are children," said Boyolali Police Chief AKBP Rosyid Hartanto.

He emphasized that the actions of the perpetrators that bind children under the pretext of punishment are a form of violence that violates the law and children's human rights.

Based on the investigation, the children had lived at SP's house for 1 to 2 months. The victim's parents entrusted them to get religious education, but what they received was physical injuries and deep trauma. One of the victims even suffered bruises due to being hit with a whip, just for taking food without permission.

The victims in this case amounted to four boys, aged 10 to 13 years, from the Batang and Semarang regions. Now they are under police supervision and receive medical and psychological assistance.

According to the Head of Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Joko Purwadi, his party has secured a number of evidences including iron chains, padlocks, and metal antennas used to hit. The SP house is now the focus of the investigation because it is strongly suspected of being used as an illegal shelter for children.

The suspect will be charged under Article 80 of Law no. 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection and/or Article 351 of the Criminal Code on Persecution. The penalty is not light, given the violence committed against minors.

This incident is a strong reminder for the community and local governments. Lack of supervision of non-formal educational institutions has the potential to open space for violence against children in the name of "disciplinary" or "rules".

Child protection activists also spoke up. This case is not the first. We need a stricter control system for community or religious-based educational institutions. Children are not objects of disciplinary experiments," said Rini Darmawan of the National Child Protection Agency.

The Boyolali Police appealed to the public not to hesitate to report allegations of violence or suspicious activities involving children. Only with the involvement of all parties, a safe and child-friendly environment can be realized.