<![CDATA[Sexual violence against wives in marriage is a serious problem that occurs frequently but remains difficult to uncover due to deeply entrenched cultural, psychological, and patriarchal power relations within the household. Although Indonesia has established legal instruments, namely Law Number 23 of 2004 concerning the Elimination of Domestic Violence and Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Criminal Acts of Sexual Violence, the implementation of legal protection for victims faces multifaceted obstacles. This study aims to analyze the implementation of legal protection for wives experiencing domestic sexual violence and evaluate it through the contemporary systems approach of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah. Employing an empirical legal research method with a qualitative case-study approach, data were obtained through observation, in-depth interviews with law enforcement officers and religious court judges in Parepare, and analysis of specific court verdicts. The findings reveal that while the positive legal framework aligns with the Maqāṣid objectives of protecting life (hifz al-nafs) and reproductive autonomy (hifz al-nasl), implementation is severely hindered. Patriarchal misinterpretations of theological texts often conflate marital obligations with unconditional sexual access, complicating the enforcement of Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI) articles regarding marital rights. Furthermore, law enforcement practices lack a victim-centric perspective, often dismissing psychological violence. To address this gap, this study recommends that future Islamic law scholars and legal practitioners investigate and formulate specific evidentiary standards for marital rape within Religious Courts to ensure that the systemic objectives of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah are practically realized in protecting women's bodily autonomy.]]>
