Female recruits in Indonesian army must undergo two-finger virginity test

Posted by Nicholas on Fri 15th May, 2015 - tori.ng

The Indonesian government has extended its virginity tests to female recruits into the various arms of the military in that country. There is a belief that women who are not virgins cannot shoot a gun effectively.

A new law has been passed in Indonesia for females wishing to join the country armed forces; they must undergo a two-finger virginity test, with the belief that women who are not virgins cannot shoot a gun effectively.

Tedjo Edh, the country’s coordinating Minister of Politics, Law, and Security, confirmed the practice in an interview with the CNN, where he was quoted as saying:

"If you lack your hymen, you cannot shoot a gun."

The test, according to Edh, is administered by a physician, who sticks two fingers inside the female applicant’s vagina to ensure that their hymen is intact.

But Human Rights Watch has urged military physicians to pressure President Joko Widodo to abolish the test.

It said: "The Indonesian armed forces should recognise that harmful and humiliating ‘virginity tests’ on women recruits does nothing to strengthen national security."

President Joko Widodo should set the military straight and immediately abolish the requirement and prevent all military hospitals from administering it."

But the country known for its adamant way of doing things, has stood firm on its law, claiming that the tests has ensured that they recruited the best applicants who were mentally and physically fit.

Before now, the virginity tests in Indonesia were meant for female police officers alone but it has been extended to the various arms of the military.