"Child rape is a crime against humanity and proper punishment for the crime is necessary," Datokarama Islamic State University Professor Sagaf Pettalongi noted in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Wednesday while responding to the information about prosecutors seeking death penalty for Wirawan.
Pettalongi remarked that most victims, who are only in their teens, ought to receive proper education for their future while attending a formal educational institution.
Wirawan, who committed the heinous crime at the school he operates, has instead inflicted suffering on his pupils, the academic emphasized.
"Unfortunately, the future of this victims has been eclipsed, despite them all being the nation's future potential," the professor remarked.
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He, therefore, viewed the West Java prosecutor's decision to seek death penalty for Wirawan as being favorable.
The academic noted that Wirawan, as leader of the boarding school and religion studies teacher, ought to be on the frontline to protect the pupils from any form of sexual violence.
"The aggravated crime that he had committed, not only violated the religious and moral values but also created a negative perception about Islamic educational institutions, particularly Islamic boarding schools," Pettalongi noted.
Pettalongi, who concurrently serves as deputy chairperson of the Central Sulawesi Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), opined that the death penalty would become a warning for all to refrain themselves from committing violence and sexual violence against children.
"Teachers in educational institutions and Islamic boarding schools must devote themselves as an educators and parents for their pupils," the professor affirmed.
Pettalongi also suggested the Prosecutor's Office in other regions to emulate West Java in pursuing a death sentence for a child rapist to protect the children's rights.
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Translator: M Hajiji, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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