A junior high student in Bandung, West Java complains her religion teacher burned her and fellow students with blown-out matches to teach them about hell.

The alleged incident happened at SMP Pasundan 7 on Tuesday. According to the student, the teacher was explaining the concept of hell. She asked the female class members to gather around while she lit a series of matchsticks.

"She asked each female student to blow out the match and then pressed it on their hands," said the student, adding that only girls were required to participate. "She said hell is full of women."

When her turn came, however, she says the teacher pressed the still-hot match onto her left cheek: "She said, 'Here, feel this. Hell is much hotter.'"

The girl's parents were outraged and reported the incident to principal Erik Sudeni on Wednesday.

Erik, however, defended the teacher. "She did not do it on purpose. When she lit the match, the students were panicked so the match fell from her hand and hit the student's cheek," Erik said.

School officials refused to comment whether the teacher, who called in sick on Wednesday, would be warned or punished.