Sheikh Puji (Photo: AFP)

Cleric Who Married 12-Year-Old Arrested Again

A Muslim cleric who married a 12-year-old girl last year has been arrested after failing to report to police.

Pujiono Cahyo Widianto, popularly known as Sheikh Puji, is required to check in with the police every week after being detained and released earlier this year for allegedly violating the Child Protection Law. Puji took the girl, Lutfiana Ulfa, as his second wife last August.

The cleric's supporters attacked the three police cars that came to collect him, but were unable to prevent his arrest.

The influential 43-year-old is also a wealthy businessman and founder of an Islamic boarding school.

Puji's lawyer, Novel Al Bakri, argued the police were overreacting.

"Syekh Puji has a team of lawyers the police can communicate with," he said. "Besides, if the police want him to come to headquarters, he will obey. There was no need to arrest him by force."

The lawyer also defended his client's marriage.

"Ulfa has menstruated, which means she's an adult who can think for herself. She has never filed a complaint to the police. She is happy with her husband, but now her husband has been arrested," he said. "So tell me, who's the victim here?"


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