Mother of Burned Islamic Boarding School Student Begs Prabowo for Justice, Alleges Police and Ministry Cover-Up

The mother of Sahril Sobirin, an Islamic boarding school student from Lombok who died after being set on fire, has appealed for help from President Prabowo Subianto. The plea was delivered during a Hearing Session (RDP) with Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta on Monday (13/7).

During the session, the victim’s mother could not hold back her tears as she begged President Prabowo to intervene in the investigation of the case that claimed her son’s life. She also demanded that the perpetrator, who is alleged to be the child of the boarding school’s leader, be firmly processed in accordance with the law.

Beyond seeking justice, Sahril’s mother also highlighted allegations of involvement by certain police officers and employees of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Central Lombok, who reportedly directed a peaceful settlement of the case. According to her account, the family felt abandoned after refusing to sign the offered peace agreement.

In the hearing, the Hotman 911 legal team was represented by Titi Tantry, who read out a letter and directly conveyed the aspirations of Sahril Sobirin’s mother. Titi explained that the victim’s mother continues to suffer physically and mentally from the loss of her child in such a tragic manner.

“My first hope is for the President of the Republic of Indonesia, whom I respect and love. I am just a poor village mother, who has no wealth and whose body is now sickly; I can no longer walk normally because my heart is shattered seeing my child, Sahril Sobirin, burned alive until he died,” Titi read.

In the letter, Sahril’s mother stated that she sent her child to the Islamic boarding school to receive a religious education, not to become a victim of violence. “As an ordinary citizen, I knock on the door of the President’s heart, as the father of all children in Indonesia. My child went to the boarding school to study religion, to become a good person, not to be tortured, stripped naked by the owner’s child, and then burned to death,” she stated.

She also revealed that her family chose to reject the proposed peace effort. “When I refused the peace letter, they discarded us. Mr. President, a poor person like me does not know where else to complain, because the police and the religious affairs department in Central Lombok actually directed the boarding school to present a peace letter to cover up this crime,” she said.