Condom House riles ulemas

SURABAYA (JP): A sex shop's insistence to reopen after it was closed down by the government following religious leaders' protests last week met even stronger objection yesterday.

Chief of the East Java branch of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Misbach, said that sex toys sold at the Condom House have the potential to corrupt public morale, especially that of youths.

"Morality is our responsibility, including vendors'. What if our youths, the hope of our nation's future, all become perverted?" Misbach was quoted by Antara as saying.

Misbach also voiced concern over couples' discontent when they compare their spouses to items sold at the shop.

Located on the second floor of Tunjungan Plaza, the Condom House offers condoms and sex toys. It first opened on June 23. Following strong objection from Moslem leaders, the shop was closed on June 26 after its owner reportedly told the government and its opponents that the shop would no longer sell the disputed items.

Two days afterwards, however, the store reopened. Shop owner, identified as Abun, contended that the shop did not violate any particular law.

Abun said that previous compliance to shut down the store was not due to pressure from the government but owing to religious leaders' objections.

"The Condom House does not violate any law. It's said to have caused social unrest," Abun said.

To prove that his business does not violate any law, Abun said that he planned to meet the Minister for Women's Role Mien Sugandhi who expressed her concern on July 1.

The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), an association of Islamic scholars, also sent a letter to Governor Basofi Sudirman on June 27, deploring the shop's presence, which he considered "incompatible" with Eastern cultural values, which hold morality in high esteem.

Deputy chief of East Java NU branch, Muhyiddin Suwondo said that the Condom House violates government regulations as well as religious law because it is more explicitly pornographic compared to films or magazines.

"It's more accessible to the public," Muhyiddin was quoted as saying. (14)