Mass sex abuse allegations force closure of boarding school in Indonesia
Hundreds of people gathered at a girls’ boarding school in Tlogosari village, Central Java, Indonesia, on 2 May, chanting slogans and holding placards during a protest.
Among the messages displayed were “Women are not sexual objects” and “The Predator,” as the crowd confronted 58-year-old Kiai Ashari, the caretaker of the Ndholo Kusumo Islamic boarding school, who was being escorted away by police.
He is suspected of sexually abusing dozens of female students—many of them orphans from low-income families—over several years. The case has sparked widespread outrage in Indonesia and drawn attention to broader concerns about sexual abuse in Islamic boarding schools.
Although several witnesses who initially spoke against him later withdrew their statements, one victim has since filed a formal complaint, alleging that as many as 50 others may have been affected.
According to the victim’s lawyer, Ali Yusron, “The number of victims is 30 to 50 children based on the victim’s statement. I handled one victim, but the legal process tells of many victims. One person reveals everything.”
Police said that Ashari, who was named a suspect on 28 April, had not yet been detained as of 4 May, but assured he would not escape. However, he fled shortly after, moving through several cities including Bogor, Jakarta and Solo before being arrested on 6 May at a mosque in Wonogiri, Central Java.
Pati police chief Jaka Wahyudi said the victim was allegedly abused 10 times at different locations between February 2020 and January 2024. He explained that the suspect would enter the victim’s room under the guise of requesting a massage before ordering the victim to undress and committing indecent acts including touching, squeezing and kissing.
The victim later reported the abuse to their father after the tenth incident, leading to a police complaint.
This is not the first allegation against Ashari, who also founded the school and is believed to have faced similar accusations since 2022. In 2024, police received additional reports of alleged sexual offences involving teenage students, though some cases were later withdrawn. Authorities said investigations faced challenges, including victims and families choosing to settle matters privately or withdrawing statements due to concerns about their children’s futures.
Experts say the case reflects a wider pattern of abuse in Indonesia’s Islamic boarding schools, where allegations often go unaddressed due to weak oversight and cultural factors. Some caretakers are accused of using mystical or religious claims to exert control over students, with critics saying this can discourage questioning and enable abuse.
Islamic scholar Imam Nahe’i noted that sexual violence in such institutions is often misunderstood or minimised, with some educators failing to fully recognise what constitutes abuse unless it involves penetration.
He also pointed to weak regulatory oversight, noting that many boarding schools operate independently and are difficult to monitor effectively.
Following the allegations, authorities shut down the Ndholo Kusumo boarding school, revoked its licence, and sent students home. The Ministry of Religious Affairs said students would continue their education through transfers or online learning, particularly for vulnerable or orphaned children.
Officials added that new admissions to the school have been suspended, and the institution could be permanently closed if it fails to meet child protection and governance standards.
The ministry also recommended stricter vetting of school caretakers and stronger enforcement to ensure better safeguarding of students across Islamic boarding schools nationwide.
Source: BBC
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