PBNU Highlights Case of Pesantren Founder in Pati Allegedly Molesting Female Students

Alissa Wahid, daughter of Indonesia’s fourth president Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), stated that PBNU is highlighting the case of alleged sexual violence by the founder of a pesantren in Pati against female students. As the current chair of PBNU, Alissa said that the organisation’s Pesantren Anti-Violence Unit (SAKA) is urging religious educational institutions, particularly pesantrens, to strengthen student protection systems. This comes in the wake of the exposure of the alleged sexual violence case by the founder of Ponpes Ndolo Kusumo in Pati, Central Java. “We emphasise that cases like this must serve as a serious lesson to strengthen student protection systems. The safety and dignity of students must be placed above all else,” Alissa said on Tuesday (5/5), quoted from Antara. She assured that PBNU is committed to monitoring the case until it is resolved, to ensure that pesantrens remain safe, dignified places trusted by the wider community. The eldest daughter of the late Gus Dur emphasised that sexual violence cases involving kyai or pesantren caretakers are extraordinary crimes that tarnish religious educational institutions. According to her, there is no room for violence of any kind in educational environments. Pesantrens must be safe and healthy places for students to grow, both in knowledge and mentally. “Such actions are crimes that cannot be justified by any reason. This is a betrayal of educational values, humanity, and the trust of the pesantren,” she said, known as a figure in the Gusdurian Network. Alissa stated that PBNU’s SAKA Pesantren is calling on law enforcement authorities to process the perpetrator fairly, transparently, and thoroughly in accordance with applicable law. “We urge all stakeholders to side with the victims and provide maximum support, from legal aid to long-term psychological recovery,” she said. She advised parents and the public to be more careful in choosing pesantrens by examining the track record of caretakers, supervision systems, institutional governance, and commitment to student protection. “We ask all parties to remain calm, not act anarchically, and entrust the handling process to law enforcement authorities,” said the eldest of four siblings. Chronology of the harassment case at the Pati pesantren. Previously, the founder of Ponpes Ndolo Kusumo, initialled AS, had to face the law after being officially named a suspect in the alleged rape of dozens of female students. AS is known to have founded the pesantren located in Tlogowungu Subdistrict, Pati, in 2021. The pesantren currently has 252 students, 112 of whom are female. The alleged harassment case came to light after a graduate victim spoke out about the suspect’s indecent treatment. The report was filed by the victim to the Pati Regency Social Service, Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, and Family Planning Office (Dinsos P3AKB) in September 2024. The case has also been reported to the authorities. However, more than a year passed without any developments in the legal process. Head of the Women’s and Children’s Protection Unit (UPTD PPA), Hartono, said that only on Monday (27/4) did police conduct a crime scene examination. There were four locations for the crime scene processing, such as the girls’ dormitory, learning room, and two kyai rooms. “There are four crime scene locations, at the girls’ dormitory, learning area, and two kyai rooms,” he said. As a result of the case, several residents and victims demonstrated in front of the pesantren on Saturday (2/5). Pati Police Resort Operations Section Chief, AKP Dwi Atma Yofi Wirabrata, revealed that AS has officially been designated a suspect in the alleged molestation case on 28 April. “Regarding the suspect designation, it was set on 28 April 2026, for the next steps we will conduct summoning (today). We will then confirm the investigation and report it to the media and public,” he said during a press conference at the Pati Regency Hall, on Sunday (3/5). Yofi acknowledged there were obstacles in handling this case. However, he did not provide details on the obstacles mentioned. “Of course, basically this case continues. Even though there are obstacles, we will report them later and they have been addressed, but the point is the case proceeds to the final stage,” Yofi stated. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has closed the pesantren following the revelation of the alleged harassment case. The students are planned to be transferred to other pesantrens in Pati. Head of the Pati Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs Office, Ahmad Syaiku, said that three decisions have been issued regarding the alleged molestation incident at the pesantren. “From the Directorate General of Pesantrens of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, there are three recommendations. First, temporary closure, meaning no new students for this academic year; second, the caretakers must be separated from the foundation, meaning not in that foundation. The third recommendation, if points one and two are not heeded, the Ministry of Religious Affairs will close it permanently,” Syaiku said.