Aceh sharia court not yet effective

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