Chairman Of Commission VIII DPR: Revocation Of Shiddiqiyayah Jombang Islamic Boarding School Permits Right

Ace Hasan/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives considers that the decision of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) to revoke the operational permit for the Majma'al Bahrain Shiddiqiyayah Islamic Boarding School, Jombang, East Java, due to the alleged molestation case carried out by Moch Subchi Azal Tsani (MSAT) alias Mas Bechi, is correct. This is because the pesantren has hindered the efforts of the authorities to uphold legal justice.

"The pesantren should not protect parties who clearly take acts of bullying that violate the law," said Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII Ace Hasan Syadzily to reporters, Friday, July 8.

"Therefore, if there are Islamic boarding schools that act against the law, they must be given sanctions. Revocation of the pesantren license is the right step," he continued.

The chairman of the Golkar DPP considered that the Islamic boarding school should cooperate with law enforcement efforts, not the other way around. "The pesantren should cooperate with law enforcement efforts. We must respect the law," said Ace.

"The pesantren should not be used as an institution that defends actions that are contrary to religious teachings," he added. Previously, the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) revoked the operational permit for the Majma'al Bahroin Hubbul Wathon Minal Iman Shiddiqiyayah Islamic Boarding School or better known as the Shiddiqiyah Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java.

The operational revocation was the result of the sexual abuse of female students by Mochammad Subchi Azal Tsani alias Bechi who was the son of the pesantren leader, namely Kiai Haji Muhammad Mukhtar Mukthi alias Kiai Tar.

"As a regulator, the Ministry of Religion has the administrative power to limit the movement of institutions in which it is suspected of violating severe laws," said Director of Education Diniyah and Islamic Boarding School, Waryono, in a written statement, Thursday, July 7. The Shiddiqiyah Islamic Boarding School continues to hinder the police from arresting Bechi, who has been named a suspect.

Waryono said the actions of the pesantren were a form of obstructing the law enforcement process. Statistical numbers and signs of the list of pesantren have also been frozen by the Ministry of Religion.