News

A bullying case towards a student of a primary school in Bukittinggi, West Sumatera, Indonesia is very terrible. It has been reported in various national medias (October 10, 2014) that seven primary school students punched and kicked a girl, who is their classmate, simultaneously in their classroom. The sad thing is that one of the doers recorded his bad behaviors very proudly. We are all concerned about the continuous violence cases that involve children of this generation as the victims or the doers. The more pathetic thing is that day by day, more cases are revealing more brutal kinds of violence, and the earlier the age of the doers. Besides the violence video of students at Bukittinggi primary school, at the moment there are at least 10 cases of violence being handled by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI). This condition is supposed to trigger everyone to think about a new settlement draft, because it has been proven that the current treatment and regulation has failed in solving the problems. (Republika, October 14, 2014)

Comment

We should consider that it is important to emphasize that the root problem of violence which is faced by this Ummah generation is a problem in the system. That is why having a mediator step between families of the victim and doers, giving administrative sanction to teachers in charge, increasing school supervision and improving the way how the teacher teaches or even character building lessons will not run effectively if they are not based on consciousness toward the basic matter covered.

In other words, we should realize that democracy and freedom are the main source of problems. Bullying cases and other similar violence cases are behavior distortions which came from understanding freedom. Freedom is the main value in a democratic system which also facilitates the principle of survival of the fittest; those who are strong will survive. The booming of student violence cases at schools - including primary schools - is a description about the application of that principle. The stronger and braver the student or child will control his friends. In the level of adulthood, this leads to anarchy.

Another factor is the weakness in the role of the family. The family's condition nowadays in the capitalistic society is pressed by economic hardship and poverty. Parents are busier with earning few wages than giving sufficient time, attention and love for their children. In a family who has better economic condition, this situation also could happen where there are lots of moms who spend their time in public activities as in world work or socialite.

There is also less supervision of school and concern from the society. Early detection is supposed to be done by the school and the neighborhood. When the symptoms of negative behavior appeared like saying rude words, bullying or committing violence, the schools or neighborhood should give attention to remind and stop this. Therefore, the negative behavior that is harmful and hurts others will not exist.

The ignorance of the government contributes more. The culture of violence enters the children's world through television programs, movies, comics and video games. The government is not too strict in abolishing those kinds of destructive programs because they give less supervision, and they give less attention or they hope to have more profit from it. The government has neglected the obligation of protecting children from dangerous media and does not support the role of parents and schools in educating the noble personality of this generation.

If we do not want this country to lose the human resources that are capable in the future, we need to substitute the system to diminish those problems. The system is Islam as an ideology and the Khilafah "Caliphate" Islamiyah is the role model. The Islamic state (Khilafah "Caliphate" Islamiyah) will lead parents and give the education curriculum so that the children will receive lessons about their behavior and attitude in accordance to Islam. They will learn to select proper words, be polite, and be caring to their brothers or sisters and others. They will also learn to select appropriately when they want to fulfill their needs and choose the correct action to do so. Thus, in the future they will become obedient human beings and bond themselves with the Islamic rules. The parents will have enough time and attention for their families because the Islamic economical system will produce an equitable prosperous society. The careful society will also come from the "amr bil maaruf wa nahi aan al munkar"; the culture to remind each other.

The Khilafah "Caliphate" State will also diminish all facilities that can cause abusive behavior for the generation such as violent TV programs, games and others. The state will also give strict punishment for the abuser, because Islam has a clear and fair punishment system.

It is time for us to substitute the democratic capitalist system which is full of destruction, with the Islamic system that is full of harmony and benefit. Let us realize it immediately!

((يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ))

"O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life." [al-Anfal (8): 24]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Iffah Ainur Rochmah
Spokesperson of Muslimah Hizb ut Tahrir / Indonesia