The Indonesian province of Atjeh has implemented a strict rule of the Sharia law, triggering controversy over possible human right violations.
The Indonesian province of Atjeh has implemented a strict rule of the Sharia law, triggering controversy over possible human right violations.
MOSCOW, December 3 (Sputnik) — Authorities in the Indonesian province of Atjeh have enacted Sharia Islamic law in the conservative region, causing possible human rights violations of the Christian minority, as well as sparking concerns of torture, possibly violating the nation’s Constitution.
The cradle of Islam in the Asia-Pacific, Indonesia’s province of Atjeh, is now living under the Sharia law by the decision of the local administration. Atjeh is one of 34 provinces in Indonesia and is located in the far-nothwest part of the most populous Muslim nation in the world. In Atjeh, Muslims comprise 98% of the province’s nearly five million strong population, whereas in Indonesia on the average about 87% of population are Muslims, with 10% being Christians.
Atjeh formally has been under Islamic law since 2001, but it was not until this September that it was decreed everyone must abide to the religious criminal codex, to include the roughly 90,000 non-Muslim minority population. From now on, many formerly allowed activities are prohibited, including fornication, sodomy, pre-marital sex, possession of alcohol, etc.. Unlawful activities are punishable with either prison terms, public flogging or severe fines.
