Amid Rising Sexual Violence, Religious Affairs Ministry Tightens Permit Rules for Central Java Islamic Boarding Schools

SEMARANG — The Ministry of Religious Affairs has tightened the issuance of operational permits for Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in Central Java. The move comes in response to a series of sexual violence cases at pesantren in various parts of the province during 2026.

Moch Fatkhuronji, head of the Religious Affairs Ministry’s Central Java regional office division for diniyah education and Islamic boarding schools, said the ministry had previously focused heavily on the number of operational permits it issued. It is now prioritising quality, including in response to sexual violence cases.

He said the ministry issued 888 operational permits for pesantren in Central Java between May and December 2025. From January to April 2026, however, the number fell sharply to 41 after stricter requirements were introduced, including Building Approvals (PBG) and Certificates of Fitness for Use (SLF).

In 2025, the Central Java regional office issued 125 recommendations for operational permits. In 2026, it has so far submitted only three recommendations.

“The state has an obligation to ensure that institutions granted official recognition genuinely meet the basic characteristics of a pesantren and are able to guarantee the safety of students,” Fatkhuronji said during an online awareness session on preventing and addressing violence in pesantren, held on Thursday (8 October 2026).

He added that, in response to violence at pesantren, including sexual violence, the ministry had established a complaints channel called Telepontren. “Improving the Telepontren channel established by the Ministry of Religious Affairs is a way to break the culture of silence that has long obstructed the disclosure of cases of violence,” he said.