Indonesian Boarding School Closes Due to Mass Sexual Abuse Allegations
- Human Rights Research Center
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Author: Tasreba Chowdhury
May 19, 2026
HRRC denounces the mass sexual abuse of students at the Ndhulo Kusomo Islamic boarding school in Indonesia. We demand justice for the victims, most of whom are minors, as this is a serious violation of human rights. We urge the Indonesian government and schools around the country to enforce safeguards against sexual abuse in educational institutions.
![A group of students in the classroom in East Java, Indonesia. [Image credit: [Image credit: Azaria AC from Unsplash]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_ff686e32ec1e43df948e21e44886ca38~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_ff686e32ec1e43df948e21e44886ca38~mv2.jpg)
An Islamic boarding school (pesantren), Ndhulo Kusumo, located in the Indonesian village of Tlogosari, Central Java, was shut down on May 2nd in response to mass sexual abuse allegations against the school’s founder and caretaker, 58-year-old Kiai Ashari. According to an official complaint from one of the victims, the number of victims ranges from 30 to 50 female teenage students, most of whom were orphans from poor families. After a victim told her father about the incidents, a police report was filed, alleging that the victim was abused 10 times between February 2020 and January 2024, at different locations. This case is part of a broader issue of sexual abuse across the country, especially in Islamic boarding schools.
Ashari has faced allegations of sexual abuse dating back to 2022, with victims mainly consisting of female teenage students. In 2024, Pati Police’s Women and Children Services Unit (PPA) received reports of the alleged abuse. Multiple victims and their families provided statements; however, many withdrew their claims out of concern for their students’ futures at the school. Ashari was finally named as a suspect on April 28, 2026. He was escorted from the school by police on May 2nd, with hundreds of people gathered around the school protesting. However, he had not been detained yet, and despite stating that he would not flee, he fled Pati on May 4th. Police found him on May 6th in Wongiri, Central Java.
Reports claim that Ashari misled his students by claiming to be an otherworldly saint or descendent of a prophet. A member of the PBNU Anti-Sexual Violence Unit (SAKA) noted that this is not just limited to Ndhulo Kusomo boarding school. Authority figures in Islamic boarding schools across the country often mislead students by claiming divinity, emphasizing that students will go to hell if they do not obey. Furthermore, many Islamic boarding schools in the country often normalize touching, hugging, and kissing with students, which could potentially lead to tolerance of sexual abuse. There was a similar case at a boarding school in Sumenep, where eight underage students were sexually assaulted from 2016 to 2024.
Although Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs issued legislation in 2022 addressing sexual abuse in educational institutions, Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia are often established by individuals rather than the government, allowing them to evade governmental regulations. Recently, the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) urged educational institutions across Indonesia to create sexual violence task forces to protect victims and prevent abuse. The Ministry of Religion has also urged that educators and caretakers at other Islamic boarding schools be dismissed if suspected of sexual abuse, and appoint new teaching staff with strict clearance.
Currently, Ndhulo Kusomo has been shut down, with new admissions paused until issues have been resolved and institutional governance meets standards for reopening. The school’s license has been rescinded by the Ministry of Religion permanently, with current students transferring to other institutions or online learning.
Glossary
Abuse- an action that intentionally causes harm or injures another person. This can refer to physical abuse, psychological abuse, mental abuse, or child abuse.
Allegation- a claim of fact not yet proven to be true. In a lawsuit, a party puts forth its allegations in a complaint, indictment, or affirmative defense, and then uses evidence at trial to attempt to prove its truth.
Denounce- to criticize something or someone strongly and publicly.
Detain- to hold them in custody, normally for a temporary period of time. Police in the United States, under Supreme Court precedent in Terry v. Ohio, may temporarily detain an individual if there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is armed, engaged in, or about to be engaged in criminal conduct.
Educational institution- an organization dedicated to facilitating learning and knowledge acquisition through structured programs and curricula. These institutions encompass a variety of settings, including schools, colleges, and universities, and often utilize education management systems to enhance administrative efficiency and support student development.
Government regulation- rules or laws enacted at federal, state, and local levels that require compliance to address health, environmental effects, security, and other public interest matters, with violations leading to civil or criminal legal action.
Institutional governance- the frameworks and procedures by which organizations are directed, administered, and held accountable.
Pesantren- a traditional Islamic boarding school in Indonesia. Pesantrens are a cornerstone of Islamic education in Indonesia, functioning as residential learning institutions where students [santri] live and study under the guidance of religious scholars [kyai]. Characterised by distinctive features such as communal living, intensive study of classical Islamic texts [kitab kuning] and an emphasis on moral and spiritual formation, pesantrens have been established for multiple generations and remain deeply embedded in the country’s educational landscape.
Rescind- to officially end a law, take back a decision, or say that an agreement no longer exists.
Safeguard- a law, rule, or something that is done to protect someone or something from harm or damage.
Sexual abuse- the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. Any sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18 years) constitutes sexual abuse.
Sexual violence- any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or other act directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting.
Systemic- relating to or affecting the whole of a system, organization, etc., rather than just some parts of it.
Task force- a group of people that are brought together to do a particular job, especially when there is a problem to solve.
Tolerance- the ability to bear something unpleasant or annoying, or to keep going despite difficulties.
References