Popular Islamic preacher Mizanur Rahman Azhari has called for stronger child protection measures and greater accountability in madrasas, saying intimidation, excessive physical punishment and inappropriate touching of students cannot be justified in the name of discipline.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Azhari, who has more than 11 million followers on the platform, stressed the need to make madrasa education safer, more modern and more accountable amid growing public concern over reports of child sexual abuse and inappropriate behaviour by teachers at religious educational institutions.
His remarks came amid several reports of students being abused by teachers at madrasas.
“The role of madrasas in promoting religious education in this country is undeniable,” he wrote, acknowledging their contribution to educating generations of Islamic scholars and devout Muslims.
Arguably the country's most popular Islamic preacher, Azhari said influential Islamic scholars, responsible individuals and those involved in running madrasas should engage in open and self-critical discussions about these issues.
“If we do not correct our own mistakes, third parties will eventually exploit the opportunity,” he said, warning that the entire madrasa education system could come under unnecessary pressure and face a broader crisis.
Azhari said religious educational institutions should not be exempt from accountability, good governance or efforts to improve standards.
“On the contrary, transparency, ethical conduct and accountability should be even more evident in religious institutions,” he said.
He placed particular emphasis on residential madrasas, saying they “require more effective policies to ensure students' safety and a quality learning environment”.
Azhari said the true strength of an institution lay not merely in its traditions or reputation but also in the safety of its students, the sense of responsibility demonstrated by its teachers and the transparency of its management.
“The objective of reform is not to weaken these institutions but to strengthen their capacity to build a safe, high-quality and trusted education system,” he wrote.
“In this regard, every madrasa must formulate and implement an effective child protection policy.”
He said students must be able to report concerns without fear, while their identities and dignity must be protected.
Serious cases of abuse, he added, should not be concealed internally. The appropriate authorities must be informed, and necessary legal action must be taken.
He also called for clear professional boundaries in teacher-student interactions, including during private meetings and messaging.