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April 21, 2006

Indonesia: More Muslim Morality Laws

We reported yesterday of the growing practice by provinces and districts, of imposing new bylaws which are based on Islamic morality and customs, even though these blatantly contradict the constitution.

The constitution is pledged to uphold pluralism, but for the 8% of the population who are Christians, and for those of other minority faiths, such as Hindus, Islamic laws are discriminatory. In South Sulawesi province, where Christians live, though still in a minority, jobs in governmental offices are out of reach now, unless a person can read and write Arabic. Women civil servants there are now obligated to dress in Islamic attire.

We described the appalling laws from Tangerang, a satellite suburb of Jakarta, the capital, based in the province of West Java. It is an offense for a women to be out alone after 7 pm. Any woman outside and unescorted after this time is now automatically charged with being a prostitute. The mayor, Wahidin Halim, introduced the bylaws, which also outlaw drinking and gambling, four months ago, and has no regrets. However, the abuses of these laws mean that now, Tangerang is being pressured to revise its ordinances.

Today's Jakarta Post reports that another suburb of Jakarta, called Depok, is now preparing to introduce bylaws modeled directly on those at Tangerang.

The only difference is that as well as all of Tangerang's strict rules, homosexuality and adultery are now to be criminalized.

The University of Jakarta has moved its campuses to Depok as well as other private universities, and though once a leafy suburb, it is now a busy metropolis. With so many young students living in the area, businesses have followed.

The laws have divided student opinion. Anindya Trisaktya, a second year student from Gunadarma University said of the after 7 pm ban on women being out and alone: "It's ridiculous. What if a meeting ends late and we have to walk home? Are they going to arrest us, too?"

A prudish student called Wisnu Murdito moaned that: "In a number of dormitories here, you will find unmarried couples living together."

Dahlan, a member of Depok City Council Commission A, representing public order, said: "Several religious organizations have expressed concern about these problems. The rate of drinking-related crimes and prostitution has not yet increased. This is about anticipating such a time, and we need to make it (the ordinance) a priority."

The identity of these religious groups, as reported in yesterday's Jakarta Post have included the Front Pembela Islam, an Arab-led vigilante group. This vehemently anti-Christian group has recently vandalised the offices of Playboy, threatened foreigners at the Holiday Inn in Bandung, and thrown rocks at the American Embassy. The other group which took part in consultations is the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).

In July, this body, the highest religious body in the nation, announced a fatwa which denounced liberal interpretations of Islam, secularism and pluralism. This rulng led to people believeing that any non-Muslim group could become a target. The Ahmadiyya were attacked by mobs in September at Sukadana in West Java, where 70 houses and six mosques were damaged. Ahmadiyyas are regarded as Muslim heretics. The Ulemas Council fatwa also led to the Islamic Liberal Network receiving dozens of death threats via e-mail and text messages

Depok City Council did not consult any Christian or Hindu religious bodies about the new law.

Amri Yusra, the deputy speaker of Depok City Council said there was still a need for more research and consultation before implementing the new ordinances. "We are also aware we should define more clearly what we mean by prostitution and alcoholic drinks," he said. "We will do it carefully and in consultation with more people."

Ida Ruwaida, a sociologist argued that education was needed, not legislation. "If prostitution becomes more prevalent, then they should look at the existing social control mechanisms," she said. She pointed to other more urgent requirements in the Suburb: "Depok has mounting problems like infrastructure, garbage and high unemployment. And furthermore, if we are talking about morals, whose values are we going by?"

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at April 21, 2006 8:16 PM

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