Jakarta, Oct. 26 -- The Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry has formed a task force dedicated to preventing and handling cases of violence at pesantrens, or Islamic boarding schools, as part of efforts to create safe and comfortable learning environments nationwide.

"Every educational institution, including ordinary schools, madrasahs (Islamic schools), and pesantrens, must serve as child-friendly places free from violence," Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar stated in Jakarta on Sunday.

He noted that his ministry had issued several regulatory instruments addressing the issue, including a 2022 regulation on preventive and responsive measures for sexual violence in religious schools, a 2023 decree outlining relevant steps, and ...