Sunday, January 17, 2010

The Sharia Police of Banda Aceh

Banda Aceh is the most devoutly Islamic of Indonesia’s provinces. In recent years it has introduced strict new Sharia-based laws, including a prescription for the stoning of adulterers — which has not yet been implemented.

This report from Norwegian TV concerns the special Sharia police who are charged with enforcing the new laws. Many thanks to TB and Reinhard of FOMI for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes for subtitling the video:


For more information about the Islamization of Indonesia, I highly recommend the FOMI discussion group on the topic (in English).

The full transcript of the video is below the jump.
- - - - - - - - -
00.00 They are getting ready for another trip through the city, the Sharia police in Banda Aceh in Indonesia…
00.09 …armed only with morality and Islamic Sharia law, they begin their work.
00.15 The police unit, Wilayatul Hisbah, have as their goal to spot women with trousers that are too tight, unmarried couples who are too close or…
00.25 …sinners who have enjoyed alcohol or a game of poker. Sharia law was introduced in 2002 and has put severe restrictions on the citizens.
00.37 And it does not take long before the Sharia police detect suspicious behavior. Down by the waterfront a young couple is asked to explain why they are sitting so close.
00.49 We proceed without aggressive behavior so that these criminals will understand the intention of our patrolling.
00.57 …Marsouk tells us. He is the chief of the Sharia police in Aceh.
01.00 These two young girls are stopped because of their choice of trousers. The two girls leave in shame after being addressed by the Sharia police.
01.11 Opinions about these laws are divided in the city.
01.16 This is a crime against human rights, but the laws introduced in Aceh, such as not wearing too tight clothes, are still sensible, says the student Ramadan al-Fiyad.
01.29 I think that the implementation of Sharia law should continue, says this woman, Surayah Devi, another citizen from Aceh.
01.38 In September the government decided to implement a decision under the law which meant that adultery can now be punished with stoning to death.
01.47 The decision has created strong reactions, and the result is that the initiative is now up for an evaluation before being fully implemented.


Hat tip: Magne.

2 comments:

Zenster said...

This is a crime against human rights, but the laws introduced in Aceh, such as not wearing too tight clothes, are still sensible, says the student Ramadan al-Fiyad.

So:

Enforcing laws against "too tight clothes" = "a crime against human rights" yet, because shari'a law is being properly enforced, it is "still sensible".

Ergo, "a crime against human rights" is "still sensible" if it brings compliance with shari'a law.

Thus, even if enforcing shari'a law is "a crime against human rights" it is "still sensible" because "too tight clothes" are:

1.) Inflammatory to the passions of weak-willed Muslim men.

2.) A threat to the very underpinnings of civilization.

3.) A lot of fun to wear.

4.) Some of the above.

5.) All of the above.

6.) Who cares? It's a fine excuse to beat up pretty women!

Remember folks, crimes against humanity are just ducky so long as shari'a law reigns supreme.

Not much of a reach to shari'a law being a crime against humanity, now innit?

In Hoc Signo Vinces† said...

The sharia police of banda aceh are an overt enforcement of sharia law. For western societies the danger is the constant mind bending and social drift into the ignorant complacency of accepting sharia law as a social norm. Deference and self-censorship acting like invisible ununiformed enforcers, a de facto value shift subconsciously submitting to sharia law.