Mass Rape of a Teen in Sampang, Nurul Arifin: This is Not a Common Crime, but a Moral Crisis of the Nation

Member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Golkar Party, Nurul Arifin, (photo: ig @na_nurularifin)

Jakarta - The case of alleged mass rape of a minor girl in Sampang Regency, East Java, a few days ago, allegedly committed by 27 people, has caused deep concern. Member of Commission I of the DPR RI from the Golkar Party, Nurul Arifin, assessed that the incident was a serious alarm over the threat of sexual violence against children that requires a comprehensive response from the state.

"If this case is true, as the law enforcement officers have said, then this is not just a common criminal act, but a human tragedy. The state must be present to provide full protection to the victim while ensuring that all perpetrators are held accountable for their actions before the law," said Nurul Arifin to the media, Tuesday, July 14.

According to Nurul, the alleged involvement of dozens of perpetrators in one case shows a more complex problem than sexual crimes in general. He assessed that there were indications of weak social control, the influence of social environments, and a decrease in sensitivity to humanitarian values.

"When so many people are suspected of being involved in sexual violence, it shows that there is a social problem that should be a common concern. This is an alarm that character education, family supervision, and environmental awareness should not be ignored," said the Head of the Media and Public Opinion Gathering (MPO) of the Golkar Party.

He also emphasized that law enforcement must be carried out firmly without discrimination. All perpetrators who have been named as suspects must be processed in accordance with applicable laws, while the police are asked to immediately arrest the suspects who are still at large.

Victim Protection

On the other hand, Nurul reminded that attention should not only be directed at the legal process against the perpetrators. Victim recovery must be the top priority because the psychological impact of sexual violence, especially those committed in groups, can last a very long time.

"The victim needs psychological support, identity protection, legal assistance, health services, and guarantees so that they can continue their education without stigma. Don't let the victim become a victim for the second time because of social pressure," he said.

Nurul also highlighted the fact that most of the suspects are still children. According to him, this condition is a signal that education on respect for the body, healthy relationships, and understanding of consent or consent must be strengthened early on through the family, school, and community.

"Children need to be given the right education regarding respect for others, body boundaries, and the legal consequences of any act of sexual violence. This education is not to teach free sex, but rather to protect children from becoming victims or perpetrators," he explained.

In addition, he invited the public to stop the culture of blaming the victim or victim blaming which is still often appearing in cases of sexual violence.

"The victim must be supported to dare to report. The environment must also be a safe place, not even judging. The culture of blaming the victim will only make cases like this more difficult to uncover," said this member of the Golkar Faction of the DPR RI from the West Java 1 District.

He assessed that prevention of sexual violence must be carried out through a cross-sectoral approach, ranging from consistent law enforcement, strengthening character education in schools, increasing digital literacy to anticipate the negative impact of content on the internet, to the active involvement of religious figures, community leaders, and local governments in building a child-friendly environment.

"This case must be a momentum for joint evaluation. We must not only react when tragedies occur. More importantly, build a strong child protection system so that similar cases do not recur," said Nurul.