A Week In 2023 There Were 3 Cases Of Child Violence At The Religious School

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - There have been three cases of violence during 2023, which has only been running for one week, in educational units under the auspices of the Ministry of Religion. This was revealed by a child observer, Retno Listyarti.

Violence that occurs ranging from physical violence and even sexual violence. All locations of the incident in the province of East Java.

In the first case, the head of the private MTs in Manyar, Gresik, with the initials AN hit 15 of his students until four of them fainted. The students who fainted allegedly due to fatigue after being slapped still stood on one leg, even though the students had not had time to have breakfast.

The beating was carried out by AN because the 15 students were eating snacks outside the school, because there was a ban on buying snacks outside the MTs canteen, but the 15 students bought food at the SMK next to MTs which happened to be in the process of building the fence.

"The physical punishment carried out by the head of the madrasa is not educational and is very dangerous for the safety of students," said Retno to reporters, Sunday, January 8.

The students who experienced violence were then traumatized and did not dare to go to madrasas again. The school foundation has indeed fired AN, but several student guardians continue to report AN to the police as of January 5.

Retno considers it reasonable, because violence against children clearly violates article 54 which states that children must be protected while in the school environment and article 76C regarding violence against children in Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection.

In the second case, a student in Pasuruan, East Java with the initials INF (13 years) was burned alive by MHM, his senior for being accused of stealing money in a boarding school room that made his senior angry.

INF received burns on his body and back, the pesantren took INF to Husada Pandaan Hospital, Pasuruan. The MHM has also been secured by the police. However, the Pasuruan Islamic boarding school said there was no intent, with the reason that at first it was just scary.

In the third case, a kiai wife in Ajung District, Jember Regency, East Java, reported her husband for alleged sexual abuse and sexual harassment of female students.

The wife said that she received complaints that Pak Kiai often included students at night. The reporter as a wife could not enter Pak Kiai's room, the entrance was to use a PIN to a finger print.

The kiai's wife was not given access to the PIN number to enter the room. But the students who were suspected of having been put in her husband's room knew the password to be able to. It penetrated the students.

Sang Kiai's wife admitted that she had pocketed evidence of her husband's alleged immoral act. However, the Jermber resort police suggested to the kiai's wife that the female students testify.

Rento views that there are two criminal elements that can be charged by the perpetrators. If the alleged perpetrator is charged with the article of infidelity, the penalty is only nine months. Because these students are still minors, the threat of punishment from the Child Protection Act is even more severe, 15 years in prison.

"Even though in the Child Protection Law, having sex with children is a criminal act, this is not a complaint offense. having sex with children there is no pretext of liking and or with consent. So the police should have been able to act according to their authority in the laws and regulations, said the KPAI Commissioner for the 2017-2022 period.

Of these three cases, Retno assessed that there were indications of indications of indications that the protection and supervision system at religious schools was quite weak.

"Therefore, I encourage the Ministry of Religion and relevant stakeholders in Education to evaluate prevention systems, complaints and handling of violence in educational units for the sake of protection, security and the best interests of children or students," he said.