Ministry of Religious Affairs Condemns Case of TPQ Student Assault in Probolinggo

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has expressed profound concern over an incident of violence allegedly suffered by one student at a Taman Pendidikan Al Quran in Probolinggo, East Java. The assault is suspected to have been carried out by a teacher at the educational institution. The case went viral after a video of the assault circulated on social media.

Head of Public Relations and Communications Bureau of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Thobib Al Asyhar, stated that the perpetrator, initialled S, is a teacher at the TPQ. He was provoked by emotions because the child in the video rode a bicycle and accidentally scratched the car of the TPQ principal where S teaches.

In the circulating video clip, a man wearing a white peci and a black T-shirt is seen lifting a young boy and slamming him to the floor. “We are deeply concerned and condemn violence against children. This cannot be justified for any reason, by anyone, or anywhere,” Thobib said when contacted on Saturday, 28 March 2026.

Thobib stated that based on reports from the East Java Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the child’s educational institution does not yet have an operational permit from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. He said that the assault incident is currently being handled by law enforcement authorities in the local area. “We fully support the authorities’ steps to enforce the law against the perpetrator,” he added.

Thobib further stated that the Ministry of Religious Affairs deeply regrets the incident. Especially since the violence occurred in a place that should be a source of safety and compassion for children. “Incidents like this must not happen again,” said Thobib.