Indonesian Ulema Council: Corruptors Deserve Death Penalty

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) firmly supports the death penalty for corruptors, viewing them as violators of fundamental human rights. KH Anwar Iskandar, the MUI's Chairman, stated that corruption's impact leads to widespread poverty and can even deprive individuals of their right to life.

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How many people die because of corruptors, how many people become poor because of corruptors? From MUI's studies, we have long proposed the death penalty for corruptors.

"How many people die because of corruptors, how many people become poor because of corruptors?" Iskandar questioned, emphasizing that MUI has long advocated for capital punishment in corruption cases. He asserted that while Islam values human rights, they are not absolute when they conflict with other essential rights, such as the right to life ('Hifdzun Nafs').

Iskandar's remarks come as data reveals the staggering scale of corruption in Indonesia. Transactions linked to corruption amounted to Rp 984 trillion in 2024, dominating the total illicit transaction value of Rp 1.459.64 trillion reported by the Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK). This figure highlights corruption as the most significant financial crime in the country.

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According to Islam, human rights are important but not absolute; there is something more absolute, which is called Hifdzun Nafs, which is part of the objectives of Sharia, namely protecting life.

PPATK head Ivan Yustiavandana noted that the complexity of crimes necessitates stronger prevention and enforcement systems. He pointed out that corruption, alongside other illicit activities like online gambling and illegal investments, has caused immense harm to thousands of victims. The agency's findings underscore the urgent need for focused efforts to combat corruption.

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And the state must give primary focus to strengthening the eradication of these criminal acts.