Caretaker Named Suspect in Santri Rape Case; Ministry Says Salafiyah Futuhiyah Islamic Boarding School Unlicensed

The Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) for Central Java has stated that the Salafiyah Futuhiyah Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes) in Grobogan Regency does not possess an operational licence. The boarding school’s caretaker, identified as MZ (57), has been named a suspect in the alleged rape of a female student. Moch Fatkhuronji, Head of the Diniyah Education and Islamic Boarding School Division at the Central Java Kemenag Regional Office, revealed that his office had conducted an inspection of the Salafiyah Futuhiyah Islamic Boarding School. He said the boarding school was found to have no operational licence. Fatkhuronji added that because it lacks a licence, the Central Java Kemenag Regional Office cannot take action against the Salafiyah Futuhiyah Islamic Boarding School. “Because it does not have an operational licence, the authority lies with the local government,” he stated on Sunday (5/7/2026). He disclosed that the Salafiyah Futuhiyah Islamic Boarding School only has 10 students. “They have already returned to their respective parents,” Fatkhuronji said. According to Fatkhuronji, in handling the alleged rape case involving suspect MZ, his office is coordinating with the Grobogan Kemenag Office and the Semarang Police. Additionally, the Central Java Kemenag Regional Office is coordinating with the Grobogan Social Service and the Grobogan Office of Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Planning.