On December 21, 2025, an ordinary day in Surabaya, Indonesia, turned extraordinary when a short video posted by Kapolrestabes Surabaya, Kombes Pol. Luthfie Sulistiawan, began to ripple across social media. What it captured—a simple, raw moment between a detained mother and her young daughter—struck a chord with millions. By the following day, which also happened to be Indonesia’s Mother’s Day, the video had gone viral, amassing more than 12 million views and sparking a tidal wave of emotional responses.
The video, shared on Luthfie’s TikTok account, @luthfie.daily, opened with a scene familiar to anyone who’s visited a detention facility: a glass barrier separating detainees from their loved ones. On one side, a little girl gazed longingly at her mother, who was dressed in an orange shirt, the color marking her status as a detainee. The mother’s eyes, red and watery, betrayed a storm of emotions barely held in check.
“Mau peluk ibunya?”—"Do you want to hug your mother?"—Luthfie asked gently, picking up the little girl in his arms. The child nodded, her voice small but clear: “Mau ketemu mama”—"I want to see mom." With the officer’s help, the barrier between mother and child was briefly lifted, and the two shared a heartfelt embrace. It was a moment so tender, so unguarded, that it seemed to transcend the cold sterility of the detention center. According to POJOKMALIOBORO.com, the mother was even given a piece of paper to fold origami with her daughter, a fleeting attempt at normalcy and play amid difficult circumstances. “Origami, dilipat-lipat aja,” Luthfie encouraged—"Just fold the origami."
The video, lasting less than two minutes, captured not only the reunion but the emotional complexity of the moment. At one point, the little girl asked her mother why she was crying. The mother, determined to shield her daughter from worry, replied, “Nggak (nangis) sakit mata mama, mama lho kuat”—"I’m not crying, it’s just eye pain, I’m strong." It was a small but powerful reassurance, a mother’s instinct to comfort even when she herself was struggling.
As the visit ended, the mother gave her daughter a message that echoed the heartbreak and hope of the moment: “Nggak boleh nakal ya, janji ya. Salim Pak Polisinya”—"Don’t be naughty, promise, okay? Greetings from the Police Officer." The words, simple as they were, carried a weight that resonated with viewers far beyond the walls of the detention center.
By December 22, 2025—Mother’s Day in Indonesia—the video had become a sensation. According to SapaNusa and other local outlets, it had been viewed over 12 million times, shared more than 21,000 times, and received upwards of 715,000 likes. The comment section quickly filled with over 12,000 messages, many from viewers who found themselves moved to tears. One user wrote, “Bapak Polisinya baik banget Masya Allah,” expressing deep gratitude for the officer’s kindness. Another commented, “Mama Sha****, semoga nanti setelah beres masa-masa itu harus lebih baik dari kemarin ya,” wishing for better days ahead for the mother and her child.
Some comments were raw expressions of empathy. “‘Mau peluk mama’ Ya Allah hatiku langsung sesak dengarnya,” another user confessed, admitting that hearing the child’s desire to hug her mother made their own heart ache. The outpouring of support was not limited to the mother and daughter; many netizens also praised the police officer for his compassion. “Pak Polisi makasih sudah memanusiakan manusia walau dia punya kesalahan,” one comment read—"Thank you, Officer, for treating someone as human even though she made mistakes."
The story, as reported by POJOKMALIOBORO.com and SapaNusa, unfolded against the backdrop of Indonesia’s Mother’s Day, adding an extra layer of poignancy. In his video caption, Kombes Pol. Luthfie Sulistiawan wrote, “Cinta ibu tak tergantikan oleh apa pun dan siapa pun. Selamat Hari Ibu, 22 Desember 2025”—"A mother’s love is irreplaceable by anything or anyone. Happy Mother’s Day, December 22, 2025." The timing was no accident; the video’s release was meant as a tribute to mothers everywhere, especially those separated from their children by circumstance.
But why did this particular video resonate so deeply? Perhaps it was the rare glimpse it offered into the humanity that persists even in the bleakest settings. Detention centers are often seen as places of punishment and regret, but here, for a brief moment, they became a place of reunion, hope, and gentle kindness. The police officer’s decision to facilitate the hug, his encouragement for mother and child to play origami, and his respectful presence throughout reminded viewers that law enforcement, too, can act with empathy and understanding.
It’s easy to forget the human stories behind bars—each detainee is someone’s parent, child, or sibling. The video challenged viewers to look beyond the orange shirts and glass partitions, to see the love and longing that survive even in the most challenging circumstances. As one commenter put it, the officer’s actions were a reminder of what it means to “memanusiakan manusia”—to treat others with humanity, regardless of their mistakes.
The story also sparked conversations about the importance of compassion in the justice system. While the mother’s legal troubles were not detailed in the video or accompanying reports, the focus remained on her relationship with her child and the officer’s willingness to honor that bond, if only for a few moments. The overwhelming response from netizens—gratitude, empathy, hope—suggested a widespread yearning for more compassion and understanding in all facets of society.
As the video continued to circulate, it became more than just a viral sensation; it became a touchstone for discussions about parenting, forgiveness, and the power of small acts of kindness. It reminded viewers that, even in the most difficult circumstances, love endures—and sometimes, all it takes is a brief moment of compassion to make that love visible to the world.
In the end, what began as a simple act of kindness in a Surabaya detention center became a national story, uniting millions in shared emotion and reflection. For one mother and her daughter, it was a fleeting reunion; for everyone who watched, it was a poignant reminder of the strength and resilience of the human heart.