Restoring the Dignity of Religious Educational Institutions
Jakarta (ANTARA) - We all agree that pesantren educational institutions represent national assets that must be safeguarded collectively. Negative cases involving pesantren caregivers must not erase the historical traces of the significant role these religious educational institutions have played in the nation’s journey.
Immoral acts and sexual violence occurring within religious education environments are viewed as betrayals of the dignity of pesantren. Traditionally, pesantren have been known as places for deepening religious knowledge or tafaqquh fiddin, while also serving as spaces for shaping the morals and character of santri.
Therefore, all forms of dishonour towards santri within pesantren environments, such as those committed by a pesantren caregiver in Pati, Central Java, are intolerable actions that must be punished as severely as possible.
The maximum punishment is expected to serve as a message that no one is above the law, including those with social status, influence, or certain titles in society, even kiai themselves.
Power Relations
In pesantren culture, the figure of the founder or caregiver holds significant sociological influence. Their presence is often respected and obeyed by santri and the surrounding community.
Such power relations can create imbalances that are potentially abused if not balanced with strong oversight.
Power and influence in educational environments should be used to guide and protect santri, not to oppress or exploit them.
The tradition of respect for teachers is indeed an important part of pesantren education, but such obedience must not be exploited for personal interests that harm santri and pesantren in general. Pesantren, whose noble roles are recorded in history, are tarnished by the actions of caregivers who fail to uphold their own dignity, that of the pesantren, and the dignity of religion.
Cases of sexual violence in pesantren often follow the same patterns, such as tolerating forms of harassment, cloaking themselves in religion and power, or teachings with mystical connotations.
According to Gramsci, power relations form a hegemony that becomes a dominant culture. Power is not always in the form of physical coercion but often in the form of discourse and knowledge as well as institutional control.
Therefore, this case presents an important momentum for all religious educational institutions, including the government, to evaluate the patterns of relations between teachers and santri.
Protection of Santri
Sexual violence leaves deep psychological impacts and can affect victims’ lives in the long term. Therefore, psychosocial recovery measures must be the top priority in handling cases.
Victims need psychological counselling, legal assistance, and social support to resume their lives safely and confidently. Society is also reminded not to impose negative stigma on victims.