Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs: The Safety of Santri is Non-Negotiable, the State is Present to Protect Children in Pesantren
Jakarta - Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Romo Syafii, has emphasised the state’s commitment to protecting santri from all forms of violence. This statement comes in the wake of alleged criminal sexual violence at one of the pesantren in Pati Regency, Central Java.
The Deputy Minister stressed that the state offers no tolerance for violent practices in religious education environments.
“There is no tolerance. There is no protection for perpetrators. Every party involved will be processed according to applicable legal provisions and subjected to firm administrative sanctions,” said Romo Syafii in Jakarta on Monday (4/5/2026).
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has taken swift and measured steps through cross-sector coordination with law enforcement agencies, women’s and children’s protection institutions, and local government. The handling is comprehensive, encompassing legal processes, victim recovery, and strengthening child care systems in pesantren environments.
As handling measures, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued instructions to the pesantren management concerned to carry out several actions. First, temporarily halting new santri admissions until the case handling is declared complete and the child protection system is deemed to meet standards.
Second, deactivating parties suspected of involvement or negligence, and replacing them with competent professional personnel in supervision and care. Third, implementing comprehensive institutional governance improvements based on strict and measurable child protection standards.
Fourth, fully supporting the law enforcement process, including encouraging the imposition of maximum sanctions if criminal acts are proven. The Deputy Minister emphasised that the Ministry of Religious Affairs will not hesitate to take firm action if these instructions are not followed.
“If not complied with, the Ministry of Religious Affairs will propose the revocation of operational permits in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” he asserted.
The Deputy Minister conveyed that this incident serves as a warning to all religious educational institutions to strengthen child protection systems and ensure safe educational environments.
“Pesantren must be safe spaces that protect. Any form of negligence and tolerance of violence cannot be accepted,” he stated.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs is committed to overseeing the handling of this case to completion in a transparent and accountable manner, while ensuring the protection of santri as the top priority.