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| Southeast Asia |
| Islamic âdress code policeâ criticized in Aceh |
| 2004-06-04 |
| A special police force which is enforcing Islamic law in Indonesiaâs Aceh province has come in for criticism for rounding up women deemed to be wearing tight jeans or see-through clothing. Alleged violators of the dress code have blasted the sharia (Islamic law) enforcement task force officers, or Wilayatulhisbah, as arrogant and over-zealous, Fridayâs Jakarta Post re-ported from the provincial capital Banda Aceh. Suspected violators are taken in police trucks to the sharia enforcement office, where they are lectured on dress codes and released. âIt was as if we were being treated like common criminals,â said Ani, a 23-year old student, who said she was already wearing a headscarf. The Post said she is one of several women upset by the sweeps. Aceh-nese already face stress from clashes between security forces and separatist rebels in the province on Sumatra island. The sharia task force has also launched raids on liquor distribution, prostitution and gambling. Its chief T. Lembong Misbah was quoted as saying that under sharia, Muslim women must wear headscarves and are banned from wearing tight jeans or transparent clothing. He said violators must sign a pledge not to wear similar clothing in future but no legal action was taken against them. Indonesia is the worldâs largest Muslim-populated nation but partial Islamic law is only in force in staunchly Muslim Aceh province. The central government authorised a form of sharia in Aceh in 2001 as part of efforts to grant the province greater autonomy and to reduce support for separatism |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |