Pati Molestation Case: Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs: No Tolerance or Legal Protection for Perpetrators
JAKARTA - The Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs (Wamenag) of the Republic of Indonesia, Muhammad Syafii, has emphasised that the Ministry of Religious Affairs does not offer any tolerance or legal protection to perpetrators of sexual violence.
Syafii stated that the state provides no room whatsoever for practices of violence in any form, especially when they occur in religious educational environments.
“We emphasise that there is no tolerance. There is no protection for the perpetrators. Anyone involved will face the law and severe administrative sanctions,” Syafii asserted, commenting on the sexual violence case at Pesantren Ndolo Kusumo, as quoted from a press statement on Wednesday (6/5/2026).
Syafii explained that the handling of this case is not only focused on the legal process but also on ensuring victim recovery and restructuring the childcare system within the pesantren environment.
“We have issued instructions to halt all new student admissions at Pesantren Ndolo Kusumo without exception until the case is fully resolved and the child protection system is deemed adequate,” he stressed.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has also deactivated all parties suspected of involvement or negligence in providing care to the students.
“We will carry out comprehensive improvements to institutional governance with strict and measurable child protection standards,” the Deputy Minister said.
He noted that the act has a traumatic impact on the victims and the potential to erode public trust in pesantren institutions.
“This is not just about one case. It is about moral and legal responsibility. Pesantren must be safe spaces, not spaces that cause trauma,” he stated.
Furthermore, Syafii reminded that this case serves as a harsh warning to all religious educational institutions in Indonesia.
“If anyone plays around with children’s safety, the state will intervene with firm action,” he added.
Previously reported, the alleged molestation case against dozens of female students at a pesantren in Pati Regency has advanced to the investigation stage.
Pati Police Chief, Commissioner Pol Jaka Wahyudi, stated that the suspect, initialled Ashari, was named a suspect on 28 April 2026 following a case review.
The case was actually reported as early as 2024, while the molestations against the victims are suspected to have occurred since 2020.
However, the police claimed that the handling process after the 2024 report was delayed due to attempts at family-based resolution by the victims’ side.
Although already designated as a suspect, the perpetrator has not yet been detained as he is considered cooperative during the examination process.