Women Empowerment Minister: Baiq Nuril`s Harasser must be Tried

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Women Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise expressed her outrage following the criminal case that jailed Baiq Nuril after the conversation recording between her and SMAN 7 high school Mataram headmaster spread publically, revealing the headmaster`s verbal sexual harassment toward Baiq. 

“Don’t just sacrifice the woman. Law enforcers have done injustice. The amount of discrimination in this country is still very high,” said Yohana to Tempo yesterday, Nov. 22.

The case that implicated Baiq Nuril happened when she was tasked to work at SMAN 7 high school Mataram and often receives harassments from the headmaster and eventually decided to record her conversation with the perpetrator, Muslim. 

However, the recording spread without Baiq’s consent that drove Muslim to file a police report against Baiq Nuril for violating the ITE Law that prevents people from spreading sexually-related contents. However, Baiq was found innocent by the Mataram District Court but after prosecutors appealed, Baiq was found guilty which eventually had her incarcerated.

Minister Yohana urged her ministry’s legal bureau to assist Baiq Nuril as she is considered by Yohana to be the victim in this case. 

“The male perpetrator must be faced against the law and be punished for what he did as a sex predator,” said minister Yohana. Ever since the case went under public scrutiny, headmaster Muslim refused to be interviewed.

FRISKI RIANA | ABDUL LATIEF APRIAMAN