Aceh considering amputation for theft
Aceh, the rebel province in the far north of Indonesia, that was badly hit by the 2004 tsunami, is considering the introduction of amputation, as a penalty against theft. Ow!
Sharia Law, the traditional Islamic set of rules and regulations, contains no ambiguity. It also doesn’t contain much tolerance, and for less fortunate, under educated people who are desperate, could be a hard deal. Here’s more from the Jakarta Post.
Draft law calls for amputation of thieves’ hands Aceh
BANDA ACEH, Aceh Province (AP): Thieves could have their hands amputated in Indonesia’s Aceh province under a proposed Islamic law that may alarm rights activists and Western governments.
The draft law was published Tuesday in an advertisement in Aceh’s Serambi newspaper that was paid for by the agency responsible for implementing Islamic Shariah law in the tsunami-ravaged province, which only recently emerged from decades of civil war.
The advertisement called on readers to comment on the proposedlaw so it could be revised before being handed over to local legislators for debate.
One article in the draft law says thieves found guilty of stealing goods worth more than the market price of 94 grams (3ounces) of gold should have a hand amputated, a punishment stipulated in the Koran, Islam’s holy book, and carried out insome Islamic countries.
The Indonesian government agreed to allow Shariah law in Aceh four years ago as part of negotiations to end the 29-year war between separatist rebels and the military. The province is slowly introducing elements of the legal code.
Last year, special Islamic courts began enforcing some of the laws, which include punishing gamblers with caning, forcing women to cover their heads in public and banning the consumption of alcohol.
Opinion polls show those regulations are popular with the province’s 4.2 million people, though it remains to be seen whether moves to broaden the law to include punishment for thieves would be supported.
The laws would likely be opposed by Western governments and rights activists keen to see Indonesia remain a beacon of moderation in the Islamic world.
The sprawling nation has more Muslims than any other, but apart from Aceh enforces secular laws and has significant minorities of other faiths.
This sounds extreme, but in the west we also have some extreme laws. In California you are allowed to use lethal force, when confronted by an intruder in your house, if they are facing you. In Texas you are allowed to use lethal force, to defend your property (house, car, lawnmower), during the hours of darkness, no matter where they’re facing (been on the books since the 1800’s).
If the proposed new law in Aceh does pass, it will be interesting to see how they apply it to foreingers.