In a rare show of unity, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has joined the National Commission on Violence Against Women in the chorus condemning the proposed mandatory virginity test for high school girls.
"It is unethical and it is an act of disrespect to women," he said on Wednesday. of the proposal made by South Sumatra's Prabumulih education board head.
Suryadharma said the implementation of such tests could elicit negative consequences in the long term, not only in a way that would degrade the dignity of female students and women, but by potentially damaging them psychologically.
The tests, he said, could also impose a negative image on Indonesian education as a whole.
"The virginity test plans can be a red light for the education community. That is not the solution needed to control the morals of our pupils. To shape their morals they need attention, not only from educational institutions but also from their families," he said.
"In addition, there is also no guarantee that after the virginity test a student would continue to preserve her virginity."
The injustice is underscored by its gender discrimination, he said: "What about controlling the morals of male students? Will they be tested for their virginity too?"
As such, Suryadharma said he will strongly object to such plans, especially in Islamic educational institutions running under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. "I confirm that madrassas and Islamic boarding schools will not implement virginity tests," he said.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) had spoken earlier against Prabumulih's plans.
"It degrades people and disparages their dignity. It also discriminates against women," head of the commission's justice and policy reformation sub-commission Kunthi Tridewiyanti said.
Kunthi added that the tests could also demotivate women from being more involved in their communities. The tests would be a form of sexual violence towards women and thus violate the constitution.
She also expressed remorse over cases of rape victims being expelled from their school. "Women should be protected so that they will not be victims of violence."
Amidst the uproar, Prabumulih education board head H.M. Rasyid now denies proposing the tests, according to Tempo.com on Aug. 21.
"I would like to clarify that the education board has never proposed that program," claiming that the controversy surrounding the issue was the result of a misunderstanding.