The Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, reaffirmed his commitment to zero tolerance for all forms of sexual violence amid the widespread spreading of hoaxes targeting him on social media.
The statement was delivered in Jakarta on Wednesday , following the spread of various disinformation contents deliberately framed to discredit him in relation to issues of sexual violence.
The Minister emphasized that his position remains firm and unchanged: rejecting all forms of violence, whether physical, verbal, or sexual. He stated that any act that violates human dignity cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
According to his statement, he speaks not only as a state official, but also as an individual who respects moral values. Therefore, all actions that contradict humanity and ethics must be treated as a public concern.
Furthermore, the Minister emphasized the importance of creating safe and dignified educational environments. He stated that religious educational institutions must become the safest spaces for students and serve as role models for society in respecting ethical values and child protection.
As part of preventive measures, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has strengthened regulations and supervisory mechanisms within religious educational institutions, including Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). These measures are intended to ensure stricter oversight of institutional activities and prevent potential misconduct.
The Minister also revealed that the Ministry has established a pesantren development and supervision unit involving institutional leaders in a collaborative way to strengthen monitoring and prevent violations.
The Minister urged the public to be wiser in receiving and sharing information. He emphasized the importance of verifying information carefully and avoiding provocation by hoaxes that could undermine social unity.
“The public must become part of the solution by applying the principle of ‘filter before sharing,’ so that our digital space remains conducive and peaceful,” he emphasized.
Editor : I Made Juni Saputra
Photographer : I Gede Dipayana
Contributed and Translated by Muhammad Mahmud Alhushori
