Long skirt cover-up order in Aceh

IN A bid to implement Islamic law to the letter, Indonesia’s West Aceh district yesterday started giving away 20,000 long, loose skirts to cover up Acehnese women caught wearing tight jeans.

The westernmost province of Aceh on Sumatra is the sole upholder of sharia law in the predominantly Muslim, but secular Indonesia. The previous local parliament passed a controversial law in September allowing adulterers to be stoned to death.

Wilayatul Hisbah, the Aceh sharia police who began this year conducting raids on unmarried couples caught together, as well as gamblers and drinkers, yesterday set up road blocks to search cars and buses for women wearing tight trousers.

Offenders were taken away to a security post and their details recorded. They were briefed on sharia law and instructed to put on one of the long skirts the local government ordered from tailors in Jakarta. Offenders were also asked to sign an agreement not to repeat the offence.

Regent of West Aceh Ramli Mansyur said he brought in the rule because he was “embarrassed that the fashion in Aceh has become too open”.

The sharia police will spend several months educating locals about the new law. After August, offenders could face a week in jail, Mansyur said.

Although most women were co-operating with the clothing swap, some were not too happy.