Aceh crowd paid to mark 'Syariah' implementation

Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

About 15,000 people paraded through Banda Aceh to mark the first day of Syariah law implementation which happened to coincide with the Islamic New Year on Friday.

Iskandar, a high school teacher from Banda Aceh, told The Jakarta Post that the local government paid each of the participants in the parade Rp 7,500 (US$0.76) to march.

The crowd included students from elementary school to university level and members of youth and other social organizations from the capital city of Aceh, Indonesia's northernmost province.

Female participants in the parade wore all white, including white veils, while males wore white shirts, black trousers and a cap.

The parade started in Blang Padang Square, where the participants prayed together and were addressed by Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh.

"Jakarta's decision to enlarge our autonomy and allow us to adopt the Syariah Law is the result of a long struggle by Aceh people. Lets make this Syariah implementation as our way to regain our glory of the past," Abdullah Puteh said.

"There is no other directives besides the Al Qur'an for Muslims. The Syariah law has to be applied correctly as it comes from the mercy of God for Aceh," he said.

Under tight security from the police they marched three kilometers to Baiturrahman Grand Mosque. Many people left the parade when it started to rain soon after they left the square but rejoined at the mosque for Friday prayers.

Coincidentally, other parades were also held across cities throughout the province on Friday.

Despite the parade, however, economic activities in the city went on as usual. Traditional markets and shops were open with many people seen busily shopping.

It is not clear, however, how syariah will be upheld in Aceh. The only clear element of syariah is the dress code.

Syariah requires all people in Aceh to dress according to Islamic law to avoid arousing lust. Outsiders who visit the province must comply with the dress code.

During the first day of implementation, however, many women did not use veils as required by Islamic law.

The other clear element is that violations of syariah by Muslims in Aceh would be tried at a special court to be established in the province.

Syariah, nevertheless, will not apply to non-Muslims, who will be tried at the existing district courts to settle legal cases.

The Acehnese themselves remain in the dark as to what kind of syariah will be applied for Muslim in Aceh.

Currently, the provincial administration has submitted only three bylaw drafts to the legislative council on the implementation of syariah.

However, none of them has been deliberated.