Aceh sharia court not yet effective

JAKARTA: Chief Justice Bagir Manan said the country's first sharia court in Aceh, which applies Islamic law, or sharia, could not work effectively due to the absence of related bylaws.

Last week, Bagir transferred the power of the district court to hear cases involving Muslims to the sharia court, which was established in early 2003 under the special autonomy granted to the province.

"So far, Aceh only has five qanun (Islamic bylaws), all of which regulate general issues like obligations to prayer. There are no qanun on general crimes like theft or murder," he told reporters on Saturday.

Sharia court applies to Muslims only, while any legal disputes involving non-Muslims continue to be settled by district courts.

The Aceh Sharia Court does not include beheadings and limb amputations -- which are regulated under sharia -- as a form of punishment. -- JP