'Syariah' to be introduced gradually in Aceh

'Syariah' to be introduced gradually in Aceh

Ibnu Mat Noor, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

The implementation of Islamic law or Syariah in Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam province will not rock the country's existing legal
system, according to observers.

Dahlan, the dean of the school of law at Syah Kuala University
in Banda Aceh said on Friday that the status of legal
institutions and their daily activities would not change.

"If there are any changes in the future, they will take place
after the bylaws concerned with the implementation of syariah are
issued," Dahlan told The Jakarta Post.

In a separate interview a senior judge at the religious court
in Banda Aceh, Abdullah Nafi, said that the religious court would
still use existing laws and regulations. "In the future there may
be more authority (for the religious court) on general civil
cases.

"The bylaws have not been formulated yet, so how can we change
the systems?" Nafi said.

According to Dahlan, formulating bylaws will take time.
"Therefore the implementation of syariah will be gradual,
parallel with the development of the Acehnese people, said
Dahlan. "It would be impossible for the people to adapt the
syariah drastically."

Both Dahlan and Nafi said that people had an inaccurate
perception of syariah and this needed clarification.

Dahlan said that he had read the drafts of the bylaws which
had been submitted by the governor to the provincial legislative
council. "None of the bylaws refer to Islamic laws adopted by
certain countries. There will be no cutting off of someone's hand
found guilty of stealing, no stoning to death, nor whipping for
those who commit adultery. We won't go that far. All the drafts
of the bylaws are related to civil and societal affairs."

A seminar on syariah held at Syah Kuala University in December
discussed a ruling on (Muslim) women's attire. "There were pros
and cons in the seminar whether to physically punish women who
don't wear jilbab (head scarf). Such articles should not be part
of the bylaws. In my opinion there must not be such punishment."

"If prosperity is achieved, and the leaders manage the country
in an honest and wise manner, nobody will go to prison. This is
the essence of Islamic law," said Dahlan.

When Abdurrahman Wahid was in office the Acehnese ulema asked
for the implementation of syariah. It was hoped that it would
provide an alternative way to settle the prolonged conflict
between pro-independence groups, including the Free Aceh Movement
(GAM).

The Special Autonomy Law, which includes provisions for the
introduction of syariah was implemented in Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam on Jan. 1, 2002. However, the Acehnese continue to be
pessimistic.

There was no sound of applause when the implementation of the
Special Autonomy Law was observed on New Year's Eve at Governor
Abdullah Puteh's residence.

Life has not changed in the capital of the restive province.
There has been no significant move to embrace syariah except the
Arabic characters on the government offices' boards.

Killings continue. Five bodies were found on Tuesday and
Wednesday. One corpse found in the village of Iboh Kutabaro was
headless.

Only one of the five was identified. Military spokesman Maj.
Ertoto confirmed the finding of the dead body -- with gunshot
wounds -- in Gle Jai village on Tuesday, saying that the deceased
was a member of Free Aceh Movement (GAM).