Spotlighting Pati Molestation Case, Cak Imin Pushes for Hotlines in Pesantren Across Every Regency

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar, or Cak Imin, has spotlighted the molestation case allegedly committed by Kiai Ashari, founder of Ponpes Ndolo Kusumo in Pati, against dozens of female students. Cak Imin emphasised that the case is not an ordinary incident but a loud alarm for the world of Indonesian education. He even described the current situation as an emergency condition of violence in educational institutions or pesantren. “What happened in Pati by someone masquerading as a fake pesantren kiai, in my view, must serve as an alarm. This is a sign of the tip of the iceberg phenomenon that must certainly be guarded against,” Cak Imin told reporters at Plaza BPJS Jamsostek on Friday, 8 May 2026. “I have reached the conclusion of an emergency in addressing violence in educational institutions or pesantren,” he added. To address this, Cak Imin is pushing for the provision of quick and safe reporting access for victims. He stated his readiness to coordinate across ministries to realise an effective complaint hotline throughout the regions. “I am ready to back up Kemenko PMK, back up the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to immediately build an effective hotline. The hotline is not only at the centre; the hotline is in each regency,” he explained. In addition, Cak Imin stressed the importance of educating every student about their personal rights. Thus, students will not easily be manipulated by irresponsible teaching figures. “Students, before starting pesantren, must receive orientation on their rights so they cannot be manipulated. The problem occurring here is due to lack of awareness of their personal rights. They are naive about their rights, naive about the essence of facing education. There must be orientation,” explained Cak Imin. Previously reported, the founder of Pondok Pesantren Tahfidzul Qur’an Ndolo Kusumo in Pati, Central Java, Kiai Ashari, has been charged with multiple articles carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. Kiai Ashari is known to be a suspect in the alleged molestation of female students. The imposition of heavy charges was made after investigators found allegations of repeated sexual violence against the victim over a sufficiently long period. Pati City Police Chief, Commissioner Big Police Jaka Wahyudi, said that AS has been charged under the Child Protection Law regarding the alleged molestation of minors.