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View all search resultsMinister Nasaruddin downplays sexual abuse cases in ‘pesantren’
The Religious Affairs Ministry claimed to having issued several regulations to prevent sexual violence cases from taking place in Islamic boarding schools as part of improvements to preventing such abuses from taking place.
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Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar delivers a speech on Oct. 14 during the signing ceremony of an agreement between three ministries to strengthen oversight of pesantren (Islamic boarding school) building safety in Jakarta. The Office of Coordinating Social Empowerment Ministry oversaw the signing of the agreement between Public Works Ministry, Religious Affairs Ministry and Home Ministry following a deadly collapse of the Al Khoziny boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java. (Antara/Rivan Awal Lingga)
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eligious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has downplayed media reports on alleged sexual abuse cases in pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), calling the issue has been exaggerated even as more cases are being reported.
On Oct. 14, three ministries signed an agreement to strengthen oversight for Islamic boarding schools’ building safety nationwide following the fatal collapse of Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java.
During the signing ceremony, Nasaruddin said Islamic boarding schools, whose oversight falls under his ministry rather than the Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry, continue to face longstanding challenges. He urged the public to “protect and honor” the institutions.
“The first ongoing issue is reports of sexual violence in pesantren that have been exaggerated by the media, even though the actual number is small,” Nasaruddin said on record at the ceremony.
He went on to cite “dead bodies lying around in pesantren” as the second concern, referring to the Al Khoziny collapse.
“We must not let people become afraid to send their children to pesantren,” the minister added.
The minister did not elaborate in his address or cite specific alleged sexual abuse cases. However, more cases have been reported or prosecuted by the police in recent months.
