Ministry of Religious Affairs Awaits Court Verdict on Santri Burning Case

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has not yet decided on sanctions for the Rosudatussaulatiyah Al Ibrahimy Islamic boarding school in Lombok following a case where a student was burned. The ministry stated it is awaiting the outcome of the court proceedings. “We are waiting for the court’s decision first, as there may have been negligence at the boarding school,” said Basnang Said, Director of Early Islamic Education and Boarding Schools at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, in South Jakarta on Thursday. He emphasised that the process must follow proper steps, but acknowledged that the boarding school bears responsibility. “In any case, since this incident occurred at the boarding school, there must be accountability from the caregivers,” he stated. Regarding the victims’ recovery, Basnang noted that the ministry’s team has been dispatched to monitor the condition of the victims, both the deceased and those still hospitalised. He added that the Ministry of Religious Affairs continues to prioritise the education of the affected students. Separately, the Director General of Islamic Education, Amien Suyitno, reiterated that all educational environments, including boarding schools, must be free from violence. He cited the example of a boarding school in Depok that has implemented an anti-violence corner and integrated monitoring systems as a potential model for creating a safe educational ecosystem.