MUI urges maximum punishment for Bandung confinement perpetrator

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is urging law enforcement to impose the maximum criminal sanctions and heaviest possible punishment on the perpetrator of a confinement and violence case against a victim identified as YTR in Bandung, in order to create a deterrent effect.

“Therefore, the punishment must be as severe as possible and must be the maximum to create a deterrent effect. If not, it will happen again,” said Siti Ma’rifah, Chair of the MUI for Women, Youth, and Family Affairs, in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The arrest was made after investigators discovered the suspect’s digital footprint through their online transaction activities.

Siti Ma’rifah stressed that the violence committed by the perpetrator not only injured the victim physically and psychologically, but also constituted multiple violations of the social and spiritual order.

According to her, a heavy sentence for the suspect is absolutely necessary to dismantle the misguided stigma that often takes root in unhealthy romantic relationships.

She observed that perpetrators of violence often feel entitled to treat their partners arbitrarily, solely under the pretext of love or closeness.

“So, it is assumed that if we love someone, we can treat that person as we please. Now, this cannot be allowed. That is why violations of the law, violations of religious values, violations of socio-cultural values, all of it must be punished,” she said.

Reflecting on the case involving a victim who was not yet bound by marriage, the MUI urged the younger generation to be more sensitive to signs of violence from their partners.

Siti Ma’rifah asked teenagers to be brave in making firm decisions and to immediately end a friendship if it begins to show signs of unhealthy possessiveness.

“If this partner or person close to us has already shown symptoms and imposes their will, it is unhealthy, so they must be left immediately,” she said.