Sampang Girl Raped by 27 Men: Lawmaker Demands State Protection for Victim

Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Nurul Arifin, has highlighted the case of a 15-year-old girl in Sampang, East Java, who was raped by 27 men. Nurul described the incident as a humanitarian tragedy and demanded that the perpetrators be held accountable. ‘If this case truly occurred as conveyed by law enforcement, it is not just an ordinary crime, but a humanitarian tragedy. The state must be present to provide full protection to the victim while ensuring all perpetrators are held accountable before the law,’ Nurul told reporters on Tuesday (14/7/2026). According to Nurul, the alleged involvement of dozens of perpetrators in a single case indicates a more complex issue than typical sexual crimes. She assessed that there are indications of weak social control, the influence of social circles, and a decline in sensitivity towards human values. ‘When so many people are allegedly involved in an act of sexual violence, it shows a social problem that must become a shared concern. This is an alarm that character education, family supervision, and community awareness cannot be ignored,’ Nurul said. The Head of the Media and Opinion Mobilisation Division of the Golkar Party’s Central Executive Board stressed that law enforcement must be carried out firmly without discrimination. All suspects must be processed according to the applicable legal provisions. On the other hand, Nurul reminded that attention should not be focused solely on the legal process against the perpetrators. She stated that the victim’s recovery must be a priority due to the psychological impact of sexual violence. ‘The victim needs psychological assistance, identity protection, legal aid, health services, and a guarantee to continue her education without stigma. The victim must not become a victim for the second time due to social pressure,’ Nurul said. Nurul also noted that most of the suspects are still minors. She argued that education regarding respect for the human body is not functioning properly. ‘Children need to be given proper education about respect for others, bodily boundaries, and the legal consequences of any act of sexual violence. This education is not to teach free sex, but precisely to protect children from becoming victims or perpetrators,’ Nurul stated. ‘Victims must be supported to dare to report. The environment must also be a safe space, not a judgmental one. The culture of victim blaming will only make cases like this harder to uncover,’ she added. Nurul believes that preventing sexual violence requires a cross-sectoral approach. She highlighted the need for law enforcement as well as strengthening character education in schools. ‘This case must be a momentum for collective evaluation. We cannot just react when a tragedy occurs. What is more important is building a strong child protection system so that similar cases do not happen again,’ she said. It is known that the rape was committed by 27 men. A total of 13 suspects have been arrested, while 14 others remain at large. ‘The remaining 14 have been placed on the wanted list. We hope to secure all the perpetrators soon to provide a deterrent effect,’ said Sampang Police Chief AKBP Hartono, as quoted by detikJatim on Tuesday (14/7).