Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, has raised concerns over what he described as media exaggeration of sexual crimes in Islamic boarding schools (pesantren).
Speaking at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture office in Jakarta on Tuesday, Nasaruddin argued that the actual number of incidents is far lower than what is widely reported.
"The sexual offenses in Islamic boarding schools have been sensationalized by the media, when in fact the number of cases is small," he said.
Nasaruddin warned that such media coverage has cast a shadow over Islamic boarding schools, but he did not cite specific cases during his remarks.
Recent incidents, however, have drawn national attention. Tempo previously reported on a case in Ciamis, West Java, where a teacher, identified as NHN, raped a female student from November 2024 to February 2025.
The victim, who was underage at the time, was in the eighth grade of junior high school. The case came to light in June, and the perpetrator is now being processed by the Ciamis Police.
In another case last April in Tulungagung, East Java, a 26-year-old man, AIA, was named a suspect for sexually assaulting multiple students at an Islamic boarding school.
Meanwhile, the Center for Islamic Studies and Society (PPIM) at UIN Jakarta reported in July that male students are actually more vulnerable to sexual violence than female students.
Nasaruddin expressed concern that sensational media coverage could harm the reputation of Islamic boarding schools, which have a long history in Indonesia, predating the country's independence.
He highlighted that the founders of these schools worked with dedication and sincerity, and negative publicity risks undermining public trust.
"We don't want people to become averse to sending their children to Islamic boarding schools," he said, urging the public to preserve and appreciate these institutions. Indonesia currently has 42,369 Islamic boarding schools, all privately funded and often operating with very limited resources.
The minister also referenced the tragic mosque collapse at Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, on September 29, which claimed more than 60 lives.
He said the disaster underscored the urgent need for government support and funding to ensure the safety and sustainability of these schools.
"Many people send their children to Islamic boarding schools because of the sincerity and selflessness found there, and many schools even provide free education," Nasaruddin concluded.