JIIAD Regrets The Government's 'Fickled' Attitude Regarding The Permit Of The Jombang Siddiqiyyah Islamic Boarding School

DOCUMENTATION/Police stand guard at the gate of the Shiddiqiyyah Ploso Islamic Boarding School during the process of arresting Moch Subchi Azal Tsani (MSAT) in Jombang, East Java, Thursday (7/7/2022). (ANTARA/Syaiful Arif)

SURABAYA - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) is considered not to be serious about revoking the permit for the Shiddiqiyyah Islamic Boarding School, Ploso, Jombang Regency. The reason is that two days after revoking the permit, the Ministry of Religion canceled the cancellation of the boarding school's permit.

"This is certainly confusing. Because at first it was said that it was revoked, then it was not revoked and so on," said the Coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Islamic Network (JIIAD), Aan Anshori, confirmed on Tuesday, July 12.

Aan assessed that the Ministry of Religion did not have a clear format, with the cancellation of the revocation of the Islamic boarding school's operational permit. Thus, the attitude of the Ministry of Religion is evidence that the government is weak in overcoming the problems that occur in pesantren.

"It could be that the Ministry of Religion does not have a child-friendly boarding school format. Pak Muhadjir and Gus Yaqut cannot only be revoked or not revoked, but rather on what kind of guidance and supervision it takes. Do not let the parents of students who house their children feel worried," he said.

According to Aan, the problem in this case is not just revoking or returning boarding school permits. But to what extent can the government really evaluate the Shiddiqiyyah Islamic Boarding School, regarding other victims of sexual abuse and rape.

According to Aan, the government's attention to this case is still very minimal. The government should have immediately opened a complaint service in the form of a hotline, for victims of the post-arrest of MSAT. Later, for example, if there are students or guardians of students who have been victims, they can report them.

"But the government doesn't think like that, it's noisy with being revoked and not revoking (the boarding school permit). Even though the most substantial thing is what steps the government must take after the capture of MSAT," he said.

Meanwhile, the Regional Office of the East Java Ministry of Religion is still reluctant to respond to the cancellation of the revocation of the operational permit of the Shiddiqiyyah Islamic Boarding School. The Head of Diniyah Education and Islamic Boarding Schools at the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of East Java, Mohammad As'adul, only asked reporters to be patient for an official statement from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of East Java.

"Please be patient, we will have a press conference later," said As'ad.