Vice President Condemns Sexual Violence Against 50 Female Students at Pati Islamic Boarding School

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has strongly condemned the alleged sexual violence against 50 female students at an Islamic boarding school in Pati Regency and assured that the legal process against the perpetrator will proceed transparently and justly.

“I strongly condemn the harassment incident against female students that occurred in Pati. Such actions cannot be tolerated. The legal process will be carried out firmly, transparently, and justly,” said Vice President Gibran in an official statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The Vice President assured that the government under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership has placed child protection issues as a priority.

One of the focuses is to make school and pesantren environments safe and comfortable for children.

Regarding the case in Pati, Central Java, Gibran stated that he has requested intensive psychological support and trauma healing to be continuously provided to the victims.

“In the future, supervision and protection of students will be strengthened to prevent similar incidents from recurring,” said Gibran.

Previously, there were allegations of molestation against at least 50 female students carried out by the caregiver of Pondok Pesantren Ndholo Kusumo, Tlogosari Village, Tlogowungu Subdistrict, Pati Regency.

The victims are generally still in junior high school, classes VII to IX. Some victims are orphans or from poor families who rely on free education at the pesantren.

Pati Police have named the pesantren caregiver with initials AS as a suspect. Although he has been designated as a suspect, AS has not yet been detained.