Said Aqil: Reporting Sexual Violence in Pesantren Is Not an Act of Disloyalty

JAKARTA — Former chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama’s Central Board (PBNU), Said Aqil Siroj, has stressed that reporting acts of sexual violence within pesantren is not an act of disobedience. Rather, it is part of an effort to uphold virtue and prevent wrong, and santri should be encouraged to resist all forms of injustice. ‘Santri must be educated to refuse oppression. To report is not disobedience. Reporting acts of sexual violence in pesantren is not disobedience, not defamation, but Amar Ma’ruf Nahi Munkar,’ he said at the National Meeting of Pesantren: The Anti-Sexual Violence Pesantren Movement in Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Monday (18 May 2026).

He urged the establishment of an independent protection unit that involves women. ‘There should be a unit that provides protection to santri. First, the unit must be independent. Second, it must be able to receive reports. There should be female elements (ibu nyai) and a confidential mechanism. This is because there is no system like this at all; therefore authority was given to a kyai figure. This nyuwun sewu [please forgive me], this is not to imply all kiai,’ he said.

In addition to the independent unit, Said Aqil emphasised transparency, security facilities, and active parental involvement in monitoring their children in pesantren. He also stressed that no special treatment or legal impunity should be granted to perpetrators of violence in pesantren, even if the perpetrator is a family member or the owner’s child. If a criminal offence occurs, the legal process must proceed without discrimination. ‘Penegakan sanksi tidak boleh bersifat impunitas. Tidak boleh karena anak kiai, gus, dan jika pidana, wajib diproses secara hukum,’ he asserted.

Said Aqil invites all elements of pesantren to return to the teachings of their ancestors and guard themselves from carnal desires. ‘We hope to return to the universal values inherited from our forebears and from the Wali Songo, the ulama. Let us return to them by restraining ourselves, and not be lured by the call of hawa nafsaniyyah,’ he said.