IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – The Women Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry on Monday strongly condemned the actions of an Islamic boarding school (Pesantren) owner who raped and molested dozens of his students. The ministry insisted that chemical castration should be used to punish the suspect.
The ministry’s Deputy of Child Protection, Nahar, on Monday said “[The ministry] respects the ongoing legal proceedings and pushes for harsh penalties to be imposed on the suspect, who has committed heinous crimes against children who just want to get the best education.”
Nahar believed the defendant can be subjected to the legal castration overseen by Law (UU) No.17/2016. The defendant, identified as HW, is now facing charges up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
In general, he said that sexual violence in boarding schools is a recurring event, and thus he also urged for serious preventive measures from stakeholders. He called on Islamic boarding schools to establish a standard for nurturing students that are in their area of responsibility.
“The responsibility of teaching them must not entirely be given to the institutions,” said Nahar.
Islamic boarding schools are also urged to provide its students with education that can help protect themselves from possible sexual assaults.
Read: Govt Revokes Permit of Islamic Boarding School Run by Child Molester
FRISKI RIANA
