(INDONESIA)
Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News) [Hong Kong]
May 6, 2026
By UCA News reporter
The case highlights lack of child protection in religious education institutes and deeper systematic flaws, activists say
Indonesian authorities have shut down an Islamic boarding school in Central Java province after its head was named a suspect in an alleged sexual abuse case involving dozens of female students.
“We have temporarily halted new admissions, removed the suspect from his role as caretaker, and recommended revoking the school’s operating license,” said Basnang Said, director of Islamic boarding schools at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, on May 5.
Police in Pati district said Ashari, head of the Ndholo Kusumo Islamic boarding school, has been named a suspect in a mass sex abuse case.
“The number of victims is estimated at 30 to 50, based on testimonies. One case opened up many others,” said Ali Yusron, a lawyer representing the victims.
Most of the victims are teenage girls from low-income families who were living at the boarding facility, he said.
The suspect manipulated the girls through alleged spiritual claims.
“The victims were told they had to obey him if they wanted to enter heaven. He claimed to be a saintly figure and a descendant of the Prophet,” the lawyer said.
He added that students were threatened with expulsion or public humiliation if they refused to comply.
According to police, a case was first filed in 2024, but legal proceedings stalled after some victims withdrew their complaints.
However, the case resurfaced after one student lodged a fresh complaint last month, prompting a new investigation. It triggered public outrage as hundreds of residents staged protests in front of the school, demanding justice.
Since then, a total of 252 students have been either sent back home or transferred to other facilities, sources told UCA News.
Child rights campaigners say the scandal once again highlights the lack of child protection in religious education institutes and deeper systemic flaws in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.
Imam Nahe’i, a member of Nahdlatul Ulama’s anti-sexual violence task force, said abuse in boarding schools frequently begins with the normalization of inappropriate behavior.
“There is often tolerance for actions such as touching or hugging, even though these can escalate into sexual violence,” he said.
He also pointed to the misuse of religious authority.
“Caretakers often claim spiritual status and students are told that disobedience could lead to sin or damnation,” he said, adding that weak oversight plays a major role.
“In reality, the Ministry of Religious Affairs cannot fully control all boarding schools, especially those independently run,” he said.
The case comes amid reports of rising violence in Indonesia’s education sector.
In 2024, a total of 573 cases of violence in schools, madrasahs, and boarding institutions were recorded, with sexual violence accounting for about 42 percent of cases, according to data from the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network.
At least 114 cases occurred in Islamic boarding schools.
Investigators said the inquiry in Pati is ongoing, and authorities believe the number of victims could increase as more survivors come forward.
Franciscan Father Vinsensius Darmin Mbula, chairman of the National Catholic Education Council, said cases like this are shocking and point to a systemic pattern of sexual violence within educational institutions spanning years.
“I hope that the exposure of this case will encourage other victims in schools who may not yet have the courage to speak out to come forward,” he told UCA News.
He noted that Catholic schools in Indonesia have specific guidelines for the prevention and handling of sexual violence cases, although the effectiveness of their implementation has yet to be fully monitored.
“This case should serve as a wake-up call for our schools to begin paying serious attention to the issue of sexual violence,” he said.