Indonesian province extends Islamic law to non-Muslims

Strict Islamic law now applies to non-Muslims in the Indonesian province of Bandah Aceh. Of Indonesia's 34 provinces, Banda Aceh is the only one to apply Islamic Law.

While the province formally implemented Islamic Law in 2001, the religious "penal code" was recently extended to include the approximately 90,000 non-Muslims that reside there. Previously, offences such as homosexual acts, adultery, fornication, possession of alcohol and extra-marital sex were not regulated, but can now be reprimanded with sentences handed down by Islamic Courts. These sentences include prison terms, public flogging or heavy fines. In addition to the Aceh bylaws providing for caning, the Aceh Criminal Code (Qanun Hukum Jinayat) passed by the Aceh parliament in 2009 provides for stoning to death for adultery and caning of up to 100 lashes for homosexuality.

Human Rights Group Amnesty International said that such corporal punishment (public flogging) violates both international law and Indonesia's own Constitution.

“It seems that Aceh’s authorities are increasingly resorting to public caning in violation of international law,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director. He went on to say, “Victims of caning experience pain, fear and humiliation, and caning can cause long-term or permanent injuries. The Indonesian government must act to stop these punishments, which constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and often amount to torture.”

Bandah Aceh has a population of around five million, 98% of whom are Muslim.

by Kevin Andrews

#indonesia #sharia #islamiclaw #bandahaceh