Islamic Scholar at Pati Boarding School Molests Dozens of Female Students, MUI Outraged

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is giving serious attention to the case of alleged molestation of dozens of female students at a pondok pesantren in Pati Regency, Central Java. Deputy Chairman of MUI, KH M Cholil Nafis, stressed that every form of violation, especially those occurring in educational settings, must be firmly addressed in accordance with applicable law. He stated that this step is crucial to maintain public trust and prevent acts of vigilante justice due to delays in case handling. “I, both personally and as a leader of the Indonesian Ulema Council, fully support the enforcement of the law regarding the occurrence, suspected or indicated, of sexual harassment and deviations by the caregiver towards his students, the santriwati,” said Kiai Cholil, quoted from the MUI website on Tuesday, 5 May 2026. According to him, the alleged sexual harassment committed by a rogue caregiver against santri is a serious violation that cannot be tolerated. MUI, he said, fully supports the legal enforcement process for the case. This case surfaced after dozens of santriwati were allegedly victims of sexual violence by a pesantren caregiver. The victims’ legal representative, Ali Yusron, stated that the report had been filed with the Pati Police Resort since 2024. However, he assessed that the case handling process has been quite lengthy despite being accompanied by several pieces of evidence, including visum results. This incident has also triggered public reactions. Mass actions were reported on Saturday, 2 May 2026, as an expression of disappointment over the alleged case affecting the santriwati. “We demand that this be followed up as a preventive step by relevant institutions on how to supervise educational institutions to intensify the implementation of good education and to be vigilant against deviations in the organisation of education,” said Cholil Nafis. In addition, he highlighted the role of supervisory bodies such as the Majelis Masyayikh under the Ministry of Religious Affairs to be more active in monitoring and evaluating the conduct of education in pesantren to ensure it remains in line with rules and ethics. MUI also invites the public to actively participate in supervising educational environments and to report any indications of deviations. With stronger supervision and involvement of various parties, it is hoped that educational institutions can become safe places for learners.