Syech Puji, Pujiono Cahyo & Underage Lust

Oct 24th, 2008, in News, by

The controversy over a politician-cleric’s marriage to an underage girl in Semarang.

43 year old Pujiono Cahyo Widayanto/Widianto, aka Syech/Syekh Puji, the head of an Islamic boarding school (Ponpes Miftahul Jannah) in Bedono, Jambu, Semarang, Central Java, in August 2008 informally married (nikah siri) Lutfiana Ulfa, 11 years and 10 months old, who had just begun studies at a local junior high school, but has now taken up wifely duties at home.

Pujiono Cahyo Widayanto
Ulfa & Pujiono Cahyo Widianto

Sheikh Puji is a very wealthy man, being the owner of PT Sinar Lendoh Terang (Silenter), a handicrafts exporter, and appeared in the news in August for distributing 1.3 billion rupiah (about $130,000) in zakat or charity to the poor. His first wife is 26 years old. In 2005 he was a candidate for the Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN) in a regency election but withdrew from the race at the last moment, and has long been involved in local politics. suaramerdeka

Pujiono Cahyo Widayanto
It’s a deal

He also intends to marry two other girls, aged 9 and 7. Of these latter two, Syech Puji says that neither has begun menstruating, so he will refrain from interfering with them, while Ulfa has already entered puberty.

Syech Puji believes his actions have a legitimate basis in Islam, considering that the prophet Muhammad married the 7 year old Aisha.

I’m not just doing what I like, it’s based in religion. It’s in accordance with the prophet’s teaching. You can marry a 7 year old if you like but you can’t have relations with her until she starts menstruating.

Clerics’ Council/Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) leader Umar Shihab condemned the marriage to Ulfa:

Men should marry adults, there are a lot of other prospective brides around. Why has he married a 12 year old? The poor girl.

His actions have been mostly condemned in other quarters, with some saying that he has broken the Marriage Law, and is liable to criminal prosecution. lampungpost detik

One supporting voice is that of politician Hilman Rosyad Syihab from the Islamist Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS), who says that marrying young girls is allowed within Islam provided the marriages are not consummated until the girl has begun menstruating. dutamasyarakat


On November 24th 2010 Syech Puji was sentenced to 4 years jail, and a 60 million rupiah fine, for marrying an underage girl. Both his wives, Lutviana Ulfa and first wife Ummi Hani, wept at the news. antara


291 Comments on “Syech Puji, Pujiono Cahyo & Underage Lust”

  1. Suryo Perkoso says:

    Perkoso,
    No, I haven’t been to Indonesia. Couple of reasons.
    First, since I don’t look like Indonesian I could be an easy target for some morons riding their half dead donkey after me with machete drawn out, and yelling “allah akbar” and waving his machete over my head, because I am not a muslim. I don’t like to much attention given to my humble person.

    Second: sine the child sex sadism thrives in open in Indonesia, I would be afraid to take any child with me to Indonesia. I would be afraid that the child may be kidnaped and just be sold for the sacral prostitution in Indonesia in the name of “allah akbarrrrrrr….” whatever.

    We’ve been to Turky and Egypt several times, and it is relatively safe. But these are the only muslim countries I feel more or less safe.

    Indonesia falls on my books in this same category as Pakistan, Sudan, Iran, and Afghanistan. So, if you wold like to earn a privilege to earn tourist money, you have to first earn that trust.

    At this point in time, we are a long way apart in that regard

    Anyone for broiled swan? THere is just so much I’d like to say, but having experienced the manifold joys of your country i’ll desist.

    You should contact BullshitBob from Bali, you two would get on like a house on fire.

  2. Suryo Perkoso says:

    schmerly Says:

    March 21st, 2009 at 6:48 am
    @ Perkoso the Bodoh.. What difference does it make if Czeslaw has been to Indonesia or not? and don’t start with the Pancasila, Java rhetoric, at least Czeslaw sees it from an outsiders point of view, not blinkered and narrow minded like you and people of your ilk.

    That fell flat on it’s face didn’t it Schmerly? Old Boris the Bolt has never been to Indo – at least you can put on your “Dagadu – I’ve been to Jogja” T shirt and moan about the place, my our swan munching friend is probably still stuck in the snow in Poznan.

  3. Czeslaw says:

    Suryo Perkoso

    “Anyone for broiled swan?”
    But did you mean, or want to say, “Any one for a wife still in diapers?

    “THere is just so much I’d like to say…”
    Suryo, whatever you was able conceive to communicate you did. Great job pal. If that is all to it, you are showing that Indonesia is a terrible place to be. I feel sorry for you, I really do.

    Probably if you could afford the trip, you would leave Indonesia ASAP

  4. Cukurungan says:

    Second: sine the child sex sadism thrives in open in Indonesia, I would be afraid to take any child with me to Indonesia. I would be afraid that the child may be kidnaped and just be sold for the sacral prostitution in Indonesia in the name of “allah akbarrrrrrr….” whatever.

    Mr Czeslaw,

    You damn right to the point, now the child sex sadism in our country in on high tide especially after big influx of the white pedo predator who bored to have sex with Cambodia and Thailand children now they try to other prey such our exotic Balinese Kidsl, therefore, if someday you visit our country and accidently your kid is missing …please do not blame us because 99% possibility your kid under special treatment from Pak Schmerly and his friend as below

    http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/printer_9329.shtml

  5. Czeslaw says:

    Cukurungan,
    I am not try to say or hide the fact that there are no child predators in Europe, US, Canada, Australia etc.. Definitively they are in those countries as well. And you can bet your last paycheck, that there are child predators in Poland as well.

    However, even in Thailand these type of criminals are arrested and persecuted. Thank you for providing the link. In Poland you might get 15-25 years prison term if convicted. Similar in other EU countries.

    What makes Indonesian pedophiles and child predators so special in Indonesia, that they parade in the open day broad light and carry their child pedophile and child sex abuse as a badge of honor, and nothing happens to them?

    And what puzzles me, that people like you and suryo are taking side and are defending the sex child abusers in Indonesia?

    Cukurungan, is your wife 3 or 7 years old as well?

    Is that because you’re a muslim in muslim country that give you a right to sexually abuse children?

    Is that the point you are trying to make?

  6. Czeslaw says:

    Suryo, pal…

    If you could afford to attended any primary school in your town, to about 5th or 6th grade, you would learn that Poznan is not in Russia, and that Boris is a Russian name, and not Polish name.

    What you say shows that you are lack of some basic education and some basic common sense, which you try to cover with racial hate. That tells a lot about your self and your up bringing by your parents.

    I am glad to hear that you could afford a fare to Jogja. I bet it was nice, pleasant and long trip.

    And where I am right now, you will never afford the price to come.

  7. Suryo Perkoso says:

    Coleslaw, I can afford the trip I assure you. What is all this crap about the EU? Poland has only recently got in, now most member states are regretting the day that happened.

    No one is defending anything – you have never been to Indonesia yet you dare to make such sweeping statements?

    III. Other forms of child sex abuse
    ‘Sexual intercourse without the use of violence’
    Article 176 :
    ” Whoever commits a lustful act against a person under fifteen (15) years of age, may be punished
    with imprisonment from 1 to 10 years. “

    not 15-25, and actually in Poland, if you pay a child for sex, then the penalty is only the same as prostitution…

    IV. Child prostitution
    We should mention that the age of the victim has no significance here. It is to say, article 174, paragraph 1 and 2
    punishes prostitution in general, without making the distinction whether or not it concerns children.

    I note that your distain for Indonesia has not prevented your countrymen coming over in droves and throwing their vodka bottles on the beaches of Bali – new to me, but perhaps they can scrounge benefits as they have managed to do in the rest of Europe.

  8. Suryo Perkoso says:

    Similar is here in Poland.

    You are in Poland – possibly not Polish but you are there nonetheless.

    Suryo, pal…

    If you could afford to attended any primary school in your town, to about 5th or 6th grade, you would learn that Poznan is not in Russia, and that Boris is a Russian name, and not Polish name.

    What you say shows that you are lack of some basic education and some basic common sense, which you try to cover with racial hate. That tells a lot about your self and your up bringing by your parents.

    I am glad to hear that you could afford a fare to Jogja. I bet it was nice, pleasant and long trip.

    And where I am right now, you will never afford the price to come.

    I know very well where Poznan is, and are you telling me that there isn’t one Boris in Poland?

    I prefer to have my swan grilled, it’s much more healthy.
    Thanks.

  9. Oigal says:

    First, since I don’t look like Indonesian I could be an easy target for some morons riding their half dead donkey after me with machete drawn out, and yelling “allah akbar” and waving his machete over my head, because I am not a muslim. I don’t like to much attention given to my humble person.

    Second: sine the child sex sadism thrives in open in Indonesia, I would be afraid to take any child with me to Indonesia. I would be afraid that the child may be kidnaped and just be sold for the sacral prostitution in Indonesia in the name of “allah akbarrrrrrr….” whatever.

    Hard to believe that much ignorance and prejudice in could be crammed into two paragraphs, perhaps better you worry about sex expoitation issues in Eastern Europe rather than worry about an Indonesia that ony exists in your fanasty universe.

  10. Suryo Perkoso says:

    Quite true – guy is a peasant.

  11. Oigal says:

    Schmerers.. I know you have your issues with Muslims and others but seriously you really want to side with people like Cze?

    It’s one thing to be critical and offer opinions but anyone who has spent ten minutes in Indonesia would know disregard these kind rants as bordering on paraniod delusional.

  12. Suryo Perkoso says:

    Schmerly did mention that he has a javanese wife, and since the probability is around 90% that she is muslim, I wonder if his issue is not with islam per se, but the fact that his wife practices it and he cannot object, perhaps he even has to conform. Schmerly will counter that I am just assuming, and he would be right, in a study I carried out some years back, I did however note that expats do not tend to seek out christian javanese as may be expected, and that the religion of their girlfriend is not a primary concern in the relationship.

    I bet that’s it, she won’t let him but his sausage in her oven.

  13. Rob says:

    @Oigal…

    Water off a duck’s back! I am still a frequent reader of IM and will remain so. Some days I drop by just to take my daily medicine as laughing is supposed to be very good for the soul.

    Anyone that has spent anytime in Indonesia surely knows that the generalizations that get cast about here are as far from reality as one can get. It works both ways though, as those that seek to defend Indonesia from those foreigners who seek to ridicule her tend to adopt equally bigoted positions in response.

    I have always thought about adopting an Indonesian persona so that I can give a little bit in the defence of Indonesia. However, I can do that as a white bloke from Australia too, and I will just have to live with the “you can never really understand Indonesia because you are white” arguments.

    Such is life…better things to do 😀

  14. Pakmantri says:

    Schmerers.. I know you have your issues with Muslims and others but seriously you really want to side with people like Cze?

    Hah, then we can call them “Smelly Coleslaw”. 😀

    @Czeslaw,

    First of all, Jak s? wy? Mam nadziej? wy by? dobrze.

    Then please read these:

    From: http://www.nowpublic.com/world/rapid-expansion-sex-tourism:

    Child pornography and trafficking people for prostituion

    More and more data show that a certain number of children are transported in the former members of eastern Europe and an important role is played, above all, by foreigners and the members of the healthcare sector. The states often mentioned in connection with that are Poland, the Checz Republic, Russia and Romania. Most governments across the world consider the level of “development” of sex tourism to be an indicator of their economic growth. It is linked to consumers and spensing, and even labelled as a luxury service without being aware (or shuting one’s eyes to the truth) that consequently it causes an increase in child abuse.

    http://www.preda.org/archives/research/st/ecpatmain3.html

    Travel advice for Poland from the Australian government:
    http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Poland

    Human trafficking in Poland:
    http://www.poland.pl/news/article,NGO_launches_anti-human_trafficking_campaign,id,312545.htm

    http://gvnet.com/humantrafficking/Poland.htm

    Now, after reading all of the above quote and links can I use all the comments that you have used to describe Indonesia before but change the words “Indonesia” to “Poland and “Indonesian and Moslem” to “Polish”?
    Would that be fair for someone who never visit the country to say? Although, not like you I’ve been to Poland for the cheap pleasure of course. 😀
    Think about it.

    And if you do not want to visit Indonesia, that’s fine with us too and you can tell all your friends and family not to come too.
    Dzi?kuj?

    Pokoj.

  15. Oigal says:

    Probably but sometimes lunacy is like catnip to us poor mugs..I can’t really sympathise with you on the white thing tho, us malayu have our own standards

  16. Lairedion says:

    Czeslaw, stay in Poland. This whole EU fantasy is an ill-thought concept. It would be better to hang up the Iron Curtain again.

  17. schmerly says:

    Oigal.. Hang on! I’m not siding with anybody, I just wanted to get both points of view.

  18. schmerly says:

    @ Oi!! Bodoh Perkoso..

    Schmerly will counter that I am just assuming, and he would be right,

    Do you enjoy being a total moron or what?? because as usual your wrong, you remind me of a gossiping old kampung ibu2, who think they know everyone’s business, I seriously believe it’s high time you got yourself down to the numpty club, where you can wallow in stupidity to your hearts content.

  19. Suryo Perkoso says:

    schmerly Says:

    March 21st, 2009 at 3:11 pm
    @ Oi!! Bodoh Perkoso..

    Schmerly will counter that I am just assuming, and he would be right,

    Do you enjoy being a total moron or what?? because as usual your wrong, you remind me of a gossiping old kampung ibu2, who think they know everyone’s business, I seriously believe it’s high time you got yourself down to the numpty club, where you can wallow in stupidity to your hearts content.

    Oh I don’t know, I got what I wanted.

    A police chief in East Java is not your business either.

    Re “the numpty club”, do you provide stupity or do we have to bring our own?

  20. Suryo Perkoso says:

    The typo of “stupidity” in this case was to illustrate the point…..
    That’s my story anyhow.

  21. schmerly says:

    @ Bodoh Perkoso.. Try the other old chestnut, sticky keys!! yeah that’s right.

    Re “the numpty club”, do you provide stupity or do we have to bring our own?

    No your OK, you’ve got more than enough.

    Oh I don’t know, I got what I wanted.

    WOW!! what a discovery!! now you know everything! Duh! Now what would you like to know hight, weight, eye colour, hair colour, any distinguishing marks? Etc., Etc., just send me the list OK.

  22. schmerly says:

    @ Bodoh Perk..

    A police chief in East Java is not your business either.

    I wonder why you would worry whether our worshipful chief of police has suggested that the girls may wish to use a Jilbab.

    Do you mean this worshipful chief of police!!!! is stand up comedy your forte? .

  23. hary says:

    In Defence of Indonesian Parents

    I am proudly Indonesian with 4 daughters aged 4, 12, 14 and 15.

    Have no doubt, I will be the machete wielding rabid brown man chasing after anyone trying to touch them before they are 21.

    Csezaw, some of your flippant comments are mildly irritating.

    Better that you stay at home than visit us… you might have to eat too many of your words.

    The good Shaikh does not represent the vast majority ; just as I don’t think Catholics have an unusual appetite for altar boy cherries.

    Good to see that Puji and his father in law were both hauled off to the lock up and are going to be prosecuted.

  24. Suryo Perkoso says:

    @Hary, very well put. Generally Indonesian parents *dote upon their kids, and we must also consider Schmerly could be at least a part Indonesian parent, unless of course he married “late in life” and chose not to have children disrupt his day to day tranquility.

    * in this case, “dote” also could mean not always giving them the necessary discipline as can be the case with new generation parents.

    Schmerly said
    WOW!! what a discovery!! now you know everything! Duh! Now what would you like to know hight, weight, eye colour, hair colour, any distinguishing marks? Etc., Etc., just send me the list OK.

    Well I know you have a high opinion and a verrry low forehead (kind of puts me in mind of Javanthropus.)

  25. Czeslaw says:

    Pakmantri,
    thanks for your comment and the links you provided.
    I am not sure if you read the information from the links you threw my way, or I am not sure of your comprehension of the English tongue.
    I am not sure if you understand, that human trafficking for any reason is illegal in Poland, and entire Europa. Yes, there is organize crime which conducts this criminal activities. AS you may read, if you did, that in Poland you could get a sentence of up to 15 years if convicted of human trafficking and child sex exploitation.
    I never denied that these crimes don’t occur in Poland, Europe, Australia, US etc.. Please ready my previous posts on IM for refreshing your memory.
    In addition, we call these things crimes and we prosecute those who committed these crimes, and that includes child sex exploitation. Polish people don’t accept these crimes as a way of life in Poland, we never did.
    On the other hand, it seems that it is a badge of honor to Indonesian man to walk his wife to a preschool or kindergarten.
    Child sex exploitation is a crime in Poland for a Polish men, and this same child sex exploitation situation is a badge of honor in Indonesian for Indonesian men and it is not a crime in Indonesia.

  26. Czeslaw says:

    Hary,
    I don’t intend to irritate anyone.
    I am glad to hear that at least on Indonesian parent, you, stated that you will not allow this to happen to you girls, your daughters. We are in accord on this same issue.
    But soryo and oigal are just opposite of what you say.
    It seems that 2 out of 3 Indonesians are as this Syech Puji is.

    And please don’t worry, we don’t have plans to visit Indonesia. I would rather take kids to see again Japan, Cambodia or India. Much safer, much friendlier places.

    I wish you the best in taking care of your daughters, and I mean it in my heart.

  27. Lairedion says:

    Czeslaw said:

    But soryo and oigal are just opposite of what you say.
    It seems that 2 out of 3 Indonesians are as this Syech Puji is.

    While we’re at it why not make some more sweeping generalizations?

    It seems that 2 out of 3 Polaks are xenophobic anti-Jew pope worshippers with a tendency of enslaving themselves as trouble causing drunk cheap labor workers in Western Europe.

    Still I’m quite positive I’m closer to the truth than you are with yours.

    Way to go Oigal. you’re now Indonesian… 🙂

  28. Mr Tic Tac Toe says:

    On the other hand, it seems that it is a badge of honor to Indonesian man to walk his wife to a preschool or kindergarten.

    My God, you really dont know Indonesia, man. If it was a badge of honour like you said, it wouldnt be such a controversy here. Look at that syech puji, he is going to be prosecuted, its a criminal act here too, you know.

    Its like saying: i dont think i will ever go to austria cause hitler was born there, austrians are bad… or never go to US, coz everyday people are drunk there, and cowboys shooting indians on the streets.

    its oversimplification, you know, the kind of reality for overly simple people. And youre not.

  29. Czeslaw says:

    Mr Tic Tac Toe
    I have to give you credit of confidence for your point of view.
    Definitely, I do a lot of business in Germany and Austria. Definitively both countries are very safe and friendly people. I lived in East Berlin for a while as well those years.
    Today there is no difference where you are in the Europe.

    Also I need to make something clear, I don’t intend to insult anyone. IM is a open public blog, and all are invited to share their point of view rather their opinion is right or wrong.

    You are the 3rd Indonesian person on par in the discussion, and the other fellow is from Australia.

    Good to hear your point of view, and as I said, I am giving you a credit of confidence in what you pointed out to me.

    But I wonder why these wacoes suryo, oigal and Lairedion went on attacking me.

    I have some Farsi friends, and with some of them I do good size business. They are telling me that Persia never was and never will be Islamic state. They are occupied my Muslims against their will. They told me that homosexuality in the religious order is very high, and that the imams and ayatollahs are the first ones to count. I will not go into the detail what I am hearing from Farsi people, but you can just imagine. Pointing sex scandals in the Catholic church by these three wacoes is out of the scope of this blog that is why I brought the homosexuality in the Muslim word to balance the negativity of both religions. Neither is right nor correct behavior.

    Again, glad to hear your point of view. Thanks.

  30. Suryo Perkoso says:

    Czeslaw Says:

    March 22nd, 2009 at 2:26 am
    Hary,
    I don’t intend to irritate anyone.
    I am glad to hear that at least on Indonesian parent, you, stated that you will not allow this to happen to you girls, your daughters. We are in accord on this same issue.
    But soryo and oigal are just opposite of what you say.
    It seems that 2 out of 3 Indonesians are as this Syech Puji is.

    And please don’t worry, we don’t have plans to visit Indonesia. I would rather take kids to see again Japan, Cambodia or India. Much safer, much friendlier places.

    I wish you the best in taking care of your daughters, and I mean it in my heart.

    Let’s do this line by line.

    I don’t intend to irritate anyone.
    Unfortunately you are, by your completely blinkered view of a place you have never seen. You are behaving like a child faced with a new food “don’t like it, never tried it”. I’ve got to be honest with you and say that I have found for whatever reason Polish tend to take a superior attitude towards other nations.

    am glad to hear that at least on Indonesian parent……
    Only a very tiny percentage of Indonesian parents don’t take proper care of their kids, and only a tiny proportion of those would consider any sort of sexual abuse. Child abuse is a disease of the west my friend. Again, you don’t know, do you? “don’t like it, never tried it”

    It seems that 2 out of 3 Indonesians are as this Syech Puji is.
    Now that is childish, and moreover shows a complete lack of education and knowledge of world affairs, either that you you are trolling for a response.

    I have some Farsi friends, and with some of them I do good size business. They are telling me that Persia never was and never will be Islamic state. They are occupied my Muslims against their will. They told me that homosexuality in the religious order is very high, and that the imams and ayatollahs are the first ones to count. I will not go into the detail what I am hearing from Farsi people, but you can just imagine. Pointing sex scandals in the Catholic church by these three wacoes is out of the scope of this blog that is why I brought the homosexuality in the Muslim word to balance the negativity of both religions. Neither is right nor correct behavior.

    Indonesia is not Iran, I add that point because you may not have visited either place.
    Pointing sex scandals at the catholic church? ah, a good catholic boy, is that what this is about? a hate of Islam or the hate of some old twit who we all abhor? I suggest that it is the former. Purrrlease do not attempt to defend that catholic church when there are churches who actually have insurance in place to cover for law suits against them because their Priests have been “getting to the bottom of a few paiges”.

    And please don’t worry, we don’t have plans to visit Indonesia. I would rather take kids to see again Japan, Cambodia or India. Much safer, much friendlier places.

    Thank the Lord for small mercies, let me warn you though that you may get a shock when you see the sex industry in japan, more littles girls involved than you might believe, and also let me warn you that should you visit Cambodia and take the attitude with the local people as you have done here, then you will end up with your head under the pillow, neither Thais or Cambodians will accept anyone commenting as you do – Indonesians are altogether more tolerant.
    I do hope that you enjoy your time in India, you deserve it.

    Since you have made it quite clear that you hate islam and Indonesia, I can’t really see much point in you sticking about.

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