Indonesian Islamic Boarding School Closed After Caretaker Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges

Hundreds of people descended on the Ndholo Kusumo Islamic boarding school in the village of Tlogosari, Central Java on 2 May. Protesters chanted and waved banners reading "Women are not sexual objects" and "The Predator" as Kiai Ashari, the 58-year-old caretaker who founded the school, was escorted away by police. One victim filed an official complaint alleging sexual abuse by Kiai Ashari.

The victim suggested that as many as 50 others fell prey to his sexual violence, according to attorney Ali Yusron. "[The number of victims] is 30 to 50 children based on the victim's statement," Ali Yusron told BBC News. "I handled one victim, but the legal process tells of many victims.

The victims are female students, mostly MTs students. "Three years in a row, they change at will," Ali Yusron said. Police named Kiai Ashari as a suspect on 28 April. On 4 May, police stated that Ashari had not yet been detained and insisted he would not flee.

Ashari fled Pati for the cities of Bogor, Jakarta and Solo on 4 May. He was caught by police on the night of 6 May at a mosque in Wonogiri, Central Java. Pati police chief Jaka Wahyudi spoke to reporters on 7 May.

The victim was allegedly abused 10 times at different locations between February 2020 and January 2024. Ashari is accused of entering the victim's room under the pretext of asking for a massage, telling the victim to remove their clothing, and committing indecent acts including touching, squeezing and kissing. After the tenth incident the victim told their father and a police report was filed.

Ashari has faced allegations of sexual abuse against students dating back to 2022. In 2024, Pati Police's Women and Children's Services Unit received reports of alleged sexual crimes targeting minors in their teens. Some of the 2024 charges against Ashari were later dropped.

Four victims withdrew their statements in the 2024 case. "The victim and the victim's parents expressed their intention to resolve the matter amicably. Therefore, several witnesses withdrew their testimony at the time, citing concerns about their children's future," Jaka Wahyudi said.

The Ndholo Kusumo boarding school had a permit since 2021 and was home to at least 252 students, many of them orphans from poor families. The school has been closed down and students have been sent home. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has revoked the school's license permanently.

Students' educations would continue through online learning options or transfers to other institutions. The Director of Islamic Boarding Schools at the Ministry of Religion, Basnang Said, said the closure was to ensure authorities could prioritise the investigation while maintaining order and protecting children.

New student admissions will be suspended until all issues are resolved and standards are met.

If Ndholo Kusumo does not meet standards it will be permanently deactivated. The Ministry of Religion has recommended that educators or caretakers suspected of sexually abusing students should be dismissed and kicked out of their residences. Islamic boarding schools across Indonesia are being asked to appoint new teaching staff with capacity, moral integrity, and readiness to care for students 24 hours a day.

Imam Nahe'i, a member of the PBNU Anti-Sexual Violence Unit (SAKA) and a former commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women who teaches at a large Islamic boarding school, described a pattern in such cases. Caretakers often teach doctrines that "smell of shamanism or mysticism" and claim to be guardians or saints, he said.

He added that some schools normalise touching, hugging and kissing students, which can lead to tolerance of sexual violence.

BBC News reported that the allegations highlight a systemic issue of sexual abuse in Islamic boarding schools across the country, where government supervision remains limited despite 2022 legislation on handling sexual violence in educational contexts.