Indonesian school official criticized for proposing virginity test

In the district of South Sumatra in Indonesia, a school official is getting flak for proposing a virginity test for graduating female high school students. 

 

In a report by Al-Jazeera, Muhammad Rasyid proposed the idea, following a recent arrest of six high school students for alleged prostitution. 

 

The public was outraged. Indonesian officials on Tuesday denounced it, calling it excessive and unethical, and activists have accused Rasyid of promoting sexual violence against women. 

 

Child Protection Commission chairperson Arist Merdeka Sirait is strongly against it too.

 

He says there are other reasons besides sexual activity - such as sports and health problems - for losing one's virginity.

 

In response, Rasyid wrote a statement to the Jakarta Post newspaper on Wednesday, backing away from the idea.

 

He explained the proposal happened after answering a parent's request where a young student was involved in a human trafficking case.

 

This was not the first time school officials tried it. 

 

A similar plan to conduct virginity tests on Sumatra island in 2010, but was soon scrapped due to widespread criticism.

 

The rapidly developing secular island nation of Indonesia has 240 million people, where majority of that population practice a moderate form of Islam. 

 

But some conservatives worry that modernization is eroding morals intertwined with that faith.

 

STORY WRITTEN BY: SATURN DE LOS ANGELES