JAKARTA: In a case that has highlighted the lack of sexual education in Indonesia, a politician has divorced his teenage bride after only four days because “she didn't bleed” the first time they had sexual intercourse. The announcement has shocked medical professionals across the country, who have lashed out at Aceng Fikri, the Garut District Chief in West Java. He told reporters that “I felt she was not a virgin because no blood came out,” adding that he would prefer to marry someone who is “beautiful on the outside and on the inside.” All medical professionals Bikyamasr.com spoke with on Monday said that not all women bleed the first time they have sex and that the politician should have done his homework before resorting to this tactic. “This is really absurd. As a gynecologist, I know damn well that not all girls will bleed. It's actually a larger percent who will not. This is ridiculous,” said Anwar al-Hamed. But it didn't stop Fikri from pushing forward for the divorce. He said he regretted sleeping with his wife, Fani Oktora, who was his second wife, reportedly after spending Rp250 million on their wedding on July 14. “Even sleeping with an artiste doesn't cost that much,” Aceng complained. “After I bought her, I found out that she was ‘not as advertised', so I returned her.” The public bashing of the young girl has led to massive protests across the country, including students and women's rights advocates who have demonstrated against him at the Garut Legislative Council office demanding his resignation. Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed concerns over Aceng's actions, while Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi ordered his subordinate, West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, to reprimand the District Chief. According to local reports detailing the incident, the young 18-year-old bride received a text message from her husband informing her that he was divorcing her after only four days of being married. Last week, she reported him to the police for “psychological abuse.” She said she agreed to become Aceng's wife after he promised to pay for her college tuition and take her on a religious pilgrimage to Mecca. Aceng told reporters he didn't understand what the fuss was all about. “I consider this a family matter,” he said, adding that he had given Fani money following their divorce. Their marriage was not registered with the Religious Affairs Ministry because Aceng is still married to his first wife and they have three children together. “If what I did was wrong, even though it was allowed by Islamic law, then I apologize to my family and my ex-wife,” he said.
