Ref: Why protested? http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/shariah-laws-in-west-java-spur-criticism-from-all-quarters/522533?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=jgnewsletter Shariah Laws in West Java Spur Criticism From All Quarters Ezra Sihite & Yuli Krisna | June 06, 2012
Shariah-inspired bylaws due to be enacted in the West Java city of Tasikmalaya have been condemned by Islamic leaders, locals and politicians, with one even lambasting the plan for “indications of treason.” Tasikmalaya city assistant Edi Sumardi told news portal Detik.com on Tuesday that one of the two bylaws would prohibit women from going outside without headscarves, while the other would bar men and women who were not married from being alone together. This, he said, would “prevent things which can lead to evilness.” He added that he hoped the laws could be enacted before Ramadan, which begins in mid-July this year. Last week, the city said it would assign officers from the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) to enforce the bylaws, which are similar in scope to those in place in Aceh province. Aceh officials have previously passed bylaws penalizing adultery, homosexuality, alcohol use, witchcraft, pornography, blasphemy and abortion. Members of the House of Representatives in Jakarta were quick to condemn the decision. “The plan not only shows indications of treason and insubordination toward the Constitution but also violates the Law on Regional Autonomy, which stipulates that legal, security and religious affairs are not within the jurisdiction of regional authorities,” said Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) legislator Eva Kusuma Sundari. “Obliging women to wear headscarves and forming a shariah police force is unconstitutional and discriminatory.” Nurul Fitriasari, a Tasikmalaya housewife, said the bylaws were unfair and would be restrictive. “Personally it won’t affect me because I wear a headscarf anyway. But if you force people to wear one there will be resistance because it’s a matter of choice,” she said. “This is a country united in diversity and not an Islamic state.” Even the West Java branch of the Islamic Council of Ulema (MUI) criticized the plan, saying the bylaws must not contradict national laws. “Are such bylaws in line with higher laws and regulations?” asked MUI West Java chairman Hafidz Utsman. “If one is a good Muslim, she will wear a head scarf regardless. So these bylaws aren’t needed.” [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
