Tight clothes to be banned

ACEH: Shops in this Indonesian province, where Islamic law is in force, will soon be banned from selling tightfitting clothes.

The announcement was made after religious police, stopped and reprimanded more than 50 women and three men for violating the Islamic dress code, including wearing tight clothing and shorts.

Samsuddin, the head of enforcement at the agency overseeing compliance with Islamic law in Aceh, said his office would issue a circular banning shops from selling body-hugging fashion items.

“We will soon send letters to shop owners,” said Samsuddin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. “The newly elected governor very much supports the enforcement of Islamic law.”

Zaini Abdullah was due to be sworn in as Aceh’s new governor on June 26 after winning an election in April.

Sharia police in Aceh regularly carry out patrols to enforce the rule of Islamic modesty and a ban on unseemly contact between unmarried couples.

Officers record the personal details of those behaving in an unseemly manner, lecture them and tell them they could be detained or lashed if they are caught again.

Samsuddin said his officers had netted 300 women who violated the Islamic dress code in the past two months.

Munway, one of the three men stopped for wearing shorts, pleaded for leniency.

“I’m a construction worker and I’m laying bricks,” he told a woman officer. “I’m outside because I’m going to buy some paint.” – Sapa-DPA