Indonesian ministries coordinate protection for Hamalatul Qur’an students

The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is coordinating with the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) to ensure the protection and psychological well-being of students at the Hamalatul Qur’an religious schools in Sukoharjo and Karanganyar, Central Java.

Following recent searches at the facilities, Kemenag staffer Gugun Gumilar stated that the goal is to ensure children receive safe education and can eventually return to their families. Verification by Kemenag revealed that the Sukoharjo institution is not registered and lacks operational permits as a boarding school, while the Karanganyar site is classified as a free Quran house without official pesantren status.

Despite the licensing issues, officials emphasized that the legal status of the institutions should not infringe upon the children's rights to safe education and protection. Kemenag expressed support for the police investigation, urging that law enforcement be conducted professionally and transparently without criminalizing religious institutions or negatively impacting the students.