Few Victim Reports Make Sexual Violence in Islamic Boarding Schools an Iceberg Phenomenon

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Commission on Anti-Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) suspects that sexual violence in pondok pesantren is akin to an iceberg phenomenon, due to the low number of reports from victims. “The number of sexual violence cases in pesantren is not larger than those in universities, but cases in pesantren with many victims are strongly suspected to be an iceberg phenomenon due to minimal reporting and strong pressure on victims,” said Komnas Perempuan member Devi Rahayu when contacted in Jakarta on Monday. Her organisation highlights the emergency situation of sexual violence in pesantren environments, which shows patterns of recurrence, spiritual-based power relations, and weak victim protection mechanisms. Such cases occur in higher education, religious education, primary and secondary education, as well as kindergartens/Islamic kindergartens, with 972 cases involving student/university student victims. “Specifically, sexual violence cases in religious educational institutions/pesantren reported to Komnas Perempuan from 2020 to 2024 total 17 cases,” said Devi Rahayu. According to her, the sexual violence case at Pondok Pesantren Ndholo Kusumo in Pati, Central Java, with many victims including both administrators and students, demonstrates a pattern of recurring incidents. “The high number of cases in religious educational institutions/pesantren is inseparable from several factors, namely the existence of patriarchal culture wrapped in religion, which tends to cultise an individual or idolise someone,” she stated. This is reinforced by spiritual-based power relations that demand absolute obedience to actions by religious figures, accompanied by threats to victims. Previously, there were allegations of molestation against at least 50 female students by the founder and leader of Pondok Pesantren Ndholo Kusumo in Tlogosari Village, Tlogowungu Subdistrict, Pati Regency, Central Java. The victims were generally still in junior high school years VII to IX. Some of them were orphans or from poor families who relied on free education at the pesantren. Pati Police determined the suspect, initialled AS, as a suspect. However, AS repeatedly failed to attend investigator summonses. Investigators then pursued the suspect, who was suspected of fleeing from Central Java to West Java and Jakarta. Investigators finally managed to arrest the suspect in Wonogiri, Central Java, on Thursday (7/5).