Recently in There Is No Fun In Islam Category

It's one thing to advise against it on religious grounds, but this missive comes from Aceh, where the imposition of Sharia has only gotten more intensive, and morality policing is already well off the rails. It is quite another matter when such a prohibition becomes grounds for harassment and intervention by law enforcement of one form or another, as is also frequently the case in Saudi Arabia. "Indonesia/Islam: Aceh Ulema Warns Muslims Against Observing Valentine’s Day," from the International Islamic News Agency, February 6:

BANDA ACEH (Indonesia),14 Rabi al-Awwal/6 Feb (IINA)-Ulema in Aceh have warned Muslims, the younger generation in particular, that observing Valentine’s Day is not allowed in Islam and against Sharia law that is in force in all of Aceh province.

“It is haram for Muslims to observe Valentine’s Day because it does not accord with Islamic Sharia” Tgk Feisal, general secretary of the Aceh Ulema Association (HUDA), said on Monday.

In Islam, he said, love should not be expressed or shown on a certain day only but every day. “Therefore, Islam’s younger generation should not participate in the celebration of a foreign festivity,” he said.

Faisal Ali who is also chairman of the Aceh branch of Nahdlatul Ulama called on Muslim parents, especially those in Aceh, to instruct and supervise their children in the matter.

“We must prevent the Muslim younger generation in Aceh from being poisoned by a culture that contradicts our Muslim values. Therefore, everybody, parents in particular, should give our youth the proper guidance,” he said.

He also called on the government to uphold and implement Islamic Sharia in “serious and sincere ways and not just out of political expediency or momentarily.”

“Islamic Sharia cannot prevail in Aceh as expected if it is not supported fully by the government and other parties in authority,” he said.

The government must also watch out for youths participating in Valentine’s Day activities in Aceh, he said.

It is a weak and paranoid regime for which young people with squirt guns pose an intolerable threat. An update on this story. "Iran arrests 17 youths over water fight," from Agence France-Presse, August 7:

Iranian police arrested 17 boys and girls over a water fight at a seaside park in the Islamic republic's south, a senior judicial official said on Sunday. "Seventeen young boys and girls who were squirting water at each other were arrested on Friday in one of the beach parks" in the city of Bandar Abbas, Homozgan province's justice chief Ali Alia said, quoted by ISNA news agency.

"Five were immediately let go," he said, adding the rest were released on bail on Sunday but could face sentences for publicly committing an "act forbidden" (haram) by Islam as well as "insulting police officers".

On July 29, several hundred youths took part in a large-scale water battle using guns and empty bottles at Ab-o-Atash (Water and Fire) park in central Tehran, after organising the event on Facebook and through text messages.

Ten of them were arrested as photos of the event emerged on social networking websites and eventually made their way into the media, but were released Saturday on bail, Shargh newspaper reported Sunday.

Officials and conservative media denounced the event in which, according to circulated photos, soaked boys and girls -- some with their mandatory hijabs askew -- attacked each other with water pistols in heat-weary Tehran.

By law, the Islamic veil is obligatory for all women in Iran.

General Ahmad Rouzbahani, head of the morality police, warned recently in a television appearance that police forces, in accordance with the law, "will act forcefully against this type of action and will not allow such events to happen in public places, or anywhere throughout the country."

They are working hard to implement the Ayatollah Khomeini's vision of society: "Allah did not create man so that he could have fun. The aim of creation was for mankind to be put to the test through hardship and prayer. An Islamic regime must be serious in every field. There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious."

PETALING JAYA: PAS' objection to the MTV concert came under fire from various groups which described the party as narrow-minded.

MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said PAS was being insensitive to the reality of multi-ethnic Malaysia by imposing its values on others.

“Young people should be allowed to enjoy popular culture as long as they do not violate societal norms.

“I do not see any contradiction between the Asian values (practised in Malaysia) and the MTV (World Stage Live in Malaysia) concert,” he told The Star yesterday.

PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and the party's Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi had objected to the concert, scheduled to take place at i-City in Shah Alam on Sunday.

Khalid said he was opposed to the concert because it was being held too close to the fasting month and that the venue was not conducive, while Nasrudin said the party was not agreeable to concerts which encouraged immoral activities.

MCA state secretary Wong Koon Mun said the protest by PAS showed the party might claim to take on a moderate approach, but “intrinsically, PAS remains dogmatic”.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said PAS' opposition proved it was a narrow and conservative party at heart.

From one Facebook group set up in response: "Spread the message, we have to cut the tongues of those who defame our faith."

Sawiris apparently didn't get the Khomeini Memo: "There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam." Therefore, never mind all the other more pressing issues going on in Egypt here of late. This is an outrage. "Egypt's business mogul Sawiris under fire for Islamic cartoons," from Al-Ahram, June 27 (thanks to all who sent this in):

Islamic lawyer Mamdouh Ismael and 14 lawyers submitted a complaint to the general prosecutor's office against Naguib Sawiris after he posted a cartoon of popular cartoon characters Mickey Mouse with an Islamic beard and dressed in a Jilbab and Minnie Mouse wearing a full Muslim veil on twitter. The post was accompanied with the comment: “Mickey and Minnie after”

Ismael said that the images were defamatory and ridiculed the Islamic faith. However, Ismael stressed that he is not going after Sawiris because he is a Copt.

Ahmed Mahmoud Kareema, Professor of Islamic Shariaa at Al-Azhar University, said that insulting religion is criminalized by the Islamic faith and Sawiris would not like it if the tables were turned and people mocked the clothes worn by Christian clerics, and, furthermore, had he mocked the clothes of Jewish rabbis, he would have been accused of being an anti-Semitic.

Following the incident, Sawiris who was attacked on social networking sites, insisted that he meant no harm and simply thought the images were funny. However, “Boycott Sawiris,” groups were launched on both Twitter and Facebook. The Facebook group titled, “We were also joking Sawiris,” urged people to boycott his products saying that “if you are really a Muslim, boycott his (Sawiris) products if you love your faith. Spread the message, we have to cut the tongues of those who defame our faith.”

After being repeatedly attacked for posting the photo, on June 24, Sawiris wrote on twitter, “I apologize for any who don’t take this as a joke, I just thought it was a funny picture, no disrespect meant! Assef (sorry).” The next day, he repeated the apology on Twitter, saying “I at least apologized as I had no intention to mock any religion.”

Sawiris is the founder of the liberal Free Egyptians Party, which was established after the 25 January revolution.

A small version of the cartoon can be seen here.

As noted below, Boko Haram's choice of targets focuses primarily on practices or institutions that go against Sharia law. Here, there is no mention of whether there was any actual gambling at any card game, which would be haram, or if the games themselves were considered close enough. In any case, to attack what is described as a common form of recreation in the area only echoes the Ayatollah Khomeini, as Robert pointed out below. He is traveling this morning but asked me to repost Khomeini's full statement:

"Allah did not create man so that he could have fun. The aim of creation was for mankind to be put to the test through hardship and prayer. An Islamic regime must be serious in every field. There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious."

So... no card games. More on this story. "Nigerian 'Islamists' fire at card players, kill two: source," by Pius Utomi Ekpei for Agence France-Presse, June 19:

Suspected members of a radical Islamist sect which bombed Nigerian police headquarters on Sunday opened fire on a crowd of card players killing two in a northern city, a senior military officer said.

Two motorcycle-riding gunmen suspected of being members of Boko Haram pumped shots into a crowd of people playing cards outside a house in the city of Maiduguri and disappeared into alleyways, said the officer who did not want to be named.

"The group of men were playing cards under a tree outside a house when two men on a motorcycle believed to be Boko Haram members opened fire on them, killing two people and seriously injuring five others," the officer told AFP....

The sect has staged attacks targeting government institutions, politicians, churches and beer drinking spots in what has become a low-level insurgency since last year. Dozens of people have been killed.

It's becoming less and less "low-level" here of late.

There Is No Fun In Islam* Update from Nigeria: "Nigerian 'Islamists' fire at card players, kill two: source," from AFP, June 19 (thanks to Ken):

KANO, Nigeria — Suspected members of a radical Islamist sect which bombed Nigerian police headquarters on Sunday opened fire on a crowd of card players killing two in a northern city, a senior military officer said.

Two motorcycle-riding gunmen suspected of being members of Boko Haram pumped shots into a crowd of people playing cards outside a house in the city of Maiduguri and disappeared into alleyways, said the officer who did not want to be named.

"The group of men were playing cards under a tree outside a house when two men on a motorcycle believed to be Boko Haram members opened fire on them, killing two people and seriously injuring five others," the officer told AFP.

"The attack is a typical Boko Haram (shoot-and-run) style," the military officer said....

* The Ayatollah Khomeini said that.

What fun they'll have when they take over in Paris. Sharia Alert from the Kingdom of the Two Holy Places: "Engaged couple can chat... but not on love," from Emirates 24/7, February 17 (thanks to Emad):

A chief Saudi Islamic scholar authorized engaged couples in the conservative Gulf Kingdom to chat by phone before marriage but warned them of brining up love issues.

Sheikh Abdullah Al Mutlaq, a member of the seven-man Supreme Scholars Committee in Saudi Arabia, said a phone conservation between engaged couples must first be approved by relatives.

"You can chat over the phone before marriage provided you get prior approval by your families," he told Aljazeira newspaper.

"But this conservation becomes forbidden if it includes love issues...you should beware of the Devil's attempts to push you into love talk then to love and other obscene topics.'

Because it's "linked to Christianity," doncha know.

"There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious." -- Ayatollah Khomeini

No fun, no joy -- and don't even get him started about romance.

"Malaysia Arrests 100 Muslim Couples for Celebrating Lovers' Day," by Elizabeth Looi for Straits Times Indonesia, February 15 (thanks to Twostellas):

Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian religious authorities arrested more than 100 Muslim couples on Monday who defied a ban on any activities marking Valentine's Day.

Islamic authorities in Malaysia in 2005 issued a fatwa to warn Muslims against celebrating Valentine's Day, saying that the occasion could lead to vice activities, especially pre-marital sex.

The edict has been enforced since then. The federal-level Malaysian Islamic Development Department, better known as Jakim, also launched a campaign entitled Mind The Valentine's Day Trap, urging Muslims to stay away from all programs associated with Valentine's Day.

The Selangor State Islamic Religious Department, one of such authorities nationwide, conducted a raid with the help of local police in budget hotels from midnight to 6am yesterday.

Officials arrested more than 200 Muslims for celebrating Valentine's Day, the department said in a statement, without elaborating.

It said 80 of them would be charged in the Shariah Court for defying the department's ban against the celebration of lovers' day.

The rest either dispersed or agreed to be counseled. Explaining the ban on Valentine's Day celebrations, Jakim had said Muslims are not allowed to observe the special day as it is linked to Christianity, which irked certain groups including non-Muslim political parties....

The reaction in the Malay community is mixed. Some Malays urged their friends via Facebook and Twitter not to observe the celebration of lovers' day but prepare themselves for the celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birthday today....

Countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia have also banned Valentine's Day celebrations....

Offensive, Islamophobic, inciteful yodeling commences around 1:00 in the video. Enjoy it while you can! An update on this story. "Austrian man convicted for yodelling while Muslim neighbours prayed," by Alex Hall for the Telegraph, December 16:

Austrian man convicted for yodelling while Muslim neighbours prayed An Austrian man has been fined for yodelling while mowing his lawn because it caused offence to his Muslim neighbours.

The retiree was accused trying to 'mock and imitate' the call of the Muezzin, who calls the faithful for prayer in mosques

Helmut Griese, 63, was found guilty of "ridiculing" their religious beliefs and fined nearly £700 by a court in Graz. Rather than face a protracted court case, with all its attendant legal costs, Mr Griese agreed to pay.

The court heard how the Muslim family regarded Mr Griese as a "grumpy old man" whose open-air Alpine chanting was intended as a taunt aimed at their religion. The retiree was accused trying to "mock and imitate" the call of the Muezzin, who calls the faithful for prayer in mosques. They alleged that he always began his yodelling just as they knelt down to pray.

Mr Griese, however, told the Austrian newspaper Kornen that "it was not my intention to imitate or insult them. I simply started to yodel a few tunes because I was in such a good mood."

The court heard how things came to a head late in the summer when Griese was both mowing his lawn and yodelling as the Muslim family were praying. Police were called, and he was served with a summons.

Moral equivalence: Yodeling = grave desecration.

Mr Griese was charged the "disparagement of religious symbols" - an offence usually used to prosecute for neo-Nazis who desecrate Jewish graves - and hindering religious practice.

There Is No Fun In Islam* Alert: "Muslim Hard-Liners in Central Java Attack Shadow Puppet Shows," by Candra Malik in the Jakarta Globe, October 14 (thanks to all who sent this in):

Sukoharjo, Central Java. First it was churches and a minority Islamic sect, then the gay community and a former Playboy editor. Now the country's much-derided Muslim hard-liners are reportedly targeting one of its most beloved icons: Wayang.

Ki Slamet Gundono, a world-renowned dalang (puppet master) for the traditional Javanese shadow puppetry, on Wednesday said hard-liners in Sukoharjo, a town south of Solo, had broken up several performances in the area.

"A bunch of youths calling themselves Laskar Jihad [warriors of jihad] attacked a wayang performance taking place in Sembung Wetan village in Sukoharjo on Saturday night," he said.

"They threatened members of the audience and forced them to disperse. "We strongly condemn this violence," he added.

Gundono said he only recently learned about the incident from fellow wayang practitioners who were afraid to report it to police.

"We have decided to take a united stand to protect the arts and culture against violent acts by any group," he said, adding people should not be afraid to hold future performances.

Joko Ngadimin, founder of Sekarjagad, a wayang and gamelan music troupe, said several similar attacks had occurred before.

"The latest incident on Saturday happened near my house," he told the Globe.

"Two people were injured and the performance was forced to stop. The attackers from Laskar Jihad were throwing rocks and brandishing swords."

He added the attackers all wore turbans and kept yelling "Allahu Akbar! " ("God is great!") while running amok.

Joko said the attacks were usually carried out during smaller weekend performances.

"These rioters only seem to disrupt wayang performances on the weekend," he said. "But they haven't dared break up any by a senior dalang."...

Witnesses said the attackers might have been provoked by the fact audience members were drinking alcohol during the shows, which can run from early evening until dawn.

Ki Manteb Sudarsono, another world-renowned dalang, condemned the attack and called on all wayang practitioners to stand together in a show of defiance against the attackers.

"I've never experienced such an incident, but violence seems to be disrupting our tranquility more and more," he said....

Indeed.

* The Ayatollah Khomeini said that.

You Don't Know What Love Is Alert:

Speakers criticise Valentine's Day -- Karachi, The News International

Basant, Valentine's Day aliens' festivals -- Lahore, The Nation (Pakistan)

Scholars oppose Valentine's Day -- Bahrain, Gulf Daily News

Saudi religious police see red on Valentine's Day -- Saudi Arabia, via Inquirer.net

Indonesian Muslims told don't mark Valentine's Day -- Indonesia, via AP

Kiss your beloved today.

"They have basically banned everything that is fun, so we feel increasingly bored."

There Is No Fun In Islam* Alert from Somalia: "Somalia Islamist group bans video games," by Mustafa Haji Abdinur for AFP, January 28:

MOGADISHU -- Somalia's Islamist insurgents on Thursday banned video games, one of the last forms of entertainment left for local youth, arguing they were destroying the country's social fabric.

The Hezb al-Islam group, currently engaged in a deadly insurgency against the internationally-backed federal government, made the announcement in a statement circulated in the areas it controls.

"Starting two days after this statement's date of issue, all video game playing centres in the areas under Hezb al-Islam control should be closed and playing video games will be prohibited," it said.

"Video games are designed in such a way that they destroy our social traditions and for that reason, anybody found ignoring this order will be punished and equipment will be confiscated," it said.

It was signed by Sheikh Mohamed Omar, head of propaganda for Hezb al-Islam, an insurgent group headed by influential cleric Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys and which controls densely-populated areas in and around Mogadishu....

"Hezb al-Islam officials ordered us to close our video game centres so today we're closed. We don't have a choice," said Ali Hidig, a game centre owner in Elashabiyaha, a village hosting refugees on the outskirts of Mogadishu.

"Young boys used to like coming here for entertainment after school but it looks like this is now a thing of the past," he told AFP.

The disappointment was deep among teenage boys in the area, where movies and sports are also banned.

"We used to watch movies. They were banned. Now the PlayStations we had fun with are also banned. This country is not for young people like me," said Abdirahman Hirsi, a 19-year-old from Lafole town.

"They have basically banned everything that is fun, so we feel increasingly bored," said another boy.

Abdi Moge, an older resident in the village, argued that there were few alternatives to occupy young people other than joining an armed group.

"Who knows what else the children are going to do now. It's not as if there was proper education for them. The more they are prevented from playing, the more likely they are to join the fighting," he said.

Hezb al-Islam and their insurgency comrades from the Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab group are implementing a very strict form of Sharia (Islamic law) in the areas they control.

The Hezb al-Islam statement did not make clear what forms of punishment would be reserved for diehard gamers caught flouting the ban.

However, in recent months across Somalia, people found dancing to traditional songs have been flogged, men guilty of trimming their beards arrested and youth playing football in shorts reprimanded by religious police units.

Satellite television is also banned in many areas and there are no cinemas left in central and southern Somalia, which are under Islamist control....

* The Ayatollah Khomeini said that.

As the Ayatollah Khomeini said, there is no fun in Islam. The article also suggests the attack was in retaliation for resistance to jihadist groups in the area; as any number of Western apologists could have told them, fighting back "causes" jihad. "Pakistan: Suicide bomb kills 32 at volleyball site," by Riaz Khan and Asif Shahzad for the Associated Press, January 1:

PESHAWAR, Pakistan - A suicide car bomber drove his vehicle onto a field during a volleyball tournament in northwest Pakistan on Friday, setting off a blast that killed 32, wounded 70 and smacked of retaliation for efforts by residents to expel militants with private militias, police said.

The blast underscores the difficulty Pakistan has had in stopping militants whose reach extends far beyond Pakistan's lawless tribal belt and who appear increasingly willing to strike civilians as well as security forces.

The attack in Lakki Marwat city was not far from South Waziristan, where the army is waging an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban. That operation has provoked apparent reprisal attacks that have killed more than 500 people since October.

In some parts of the northwest, residents have taken matters into their own hands, starting militias to beat back insurgents. Police said Friday's bombing was possible revenge for such efforts in Lakki Marwat.

No group claimed responsibility, but that is not uncommon when large numbers of civilians are killed.

"The locality has been a hub of militants. Locals set up a militia and expelled the militants from this area. This attack seems to be reaction to their expulsion," local police chief Ayub Khan told reporters.

He said the bomber drove a vehicle loaded with 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of high-intensity explosives onto the field, which lies in a congested neighborhood. Some nearby houses collapsed, and "we fear that some 10 or so people might have been trapped in the rubble," Khan said.

In addition, a group of local tribal elders were holding a meeting at a mosque nearby. The mosque was damaged and some people there died, he said.

Another police official, Habib Khan, said at least 32 people died and more than 70 were wounded. He said some 300 people were on the field when the incident took place.

Regional Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said the death toll may jump to more than 50. "We have 32 bodies, but there are body parts lying in the rubble," he said.

Private TV footage taken from a hospital afterward showed bloodied men on stretchers, looking dazed as relatives hovered nearby.

Hussain reiterated the government's resolve to target militants wherever they may be, saying "we need to be more offensive to fight them."...

That'd be swell.

Once again, as the Ayatollah Khomeini said, There is no fun in Islam. "Aceh Sharia forbids Chinese dance of the lions," by Mathias Hariyadi from AsiaNews, December 21 (thanks to C. Cantoni):

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Indonesians of Chinese descent are in revolt against the decision of the Religious Affairs Office of Aceh, which has banned the popular barongsay (the dance of the lions, ed) during the commemorations of the fifth anniversary of the tsunami. The authorities explain that it is clearly extraneous to local culture and they want to "maintain religious harmony." The descendants of the Chinese replicate by describing the decision as "ridiculous".

Kim, an Indonesian of Chinese descent in North Jakarta, speaks of a "ridiculous and shameful" decision, in open violation of the five basic principles (the Pancasila) that "ensure full respect for cultural diversity." They are the five pillars of secular nationalism, on which the country has built its history since independence in 1945. "The decision to ban the barongsay - he adds - humiliates the various ethnic groups in Indonesia, including the Chinese people of Aceh."...

A. Rahman TB, an official of the Religious Affairs Office of Aceh - the most fundamentalist province of the country, where Islamic law is in force - justifies the decision stressing that the dance "has never been represented before" and the desire to maintain" religious harmony among the Muslims of Aceh and other ethnic groups in the province".

"It's stupid" replies Martini, a woman of Chinese origin who lives in Jakarta, based on "completely unfounded reasons". The Chinese community states that the barongsay has"no religious character", but is only a" cultural show ". Finally they add that they received all necessary permits from local authorities, including a police permit....

All the swimsuits and suicide belts might have been interesting to see, but it ain't happening. There is, after all, no fun in Islam (the Ayatollah Khomeini said that).

Sharia Alert: "Mideast: West Bank; Miss Palestine Pageant Cancelled," from ANSAmed, December 21 (thanks to C. Cantoni):

(ANSAmed) - RAMALLAH, DECEMBER 21 - The 2009 Miss Palestine pageant, scheduled to take place on December 26 under the aegis of the local administration of Ramallah, on the West Bank, has been postponed indefinitely, the MAAN press agency reports today. Muslim groups had called the competition an "offence to traditional values" and to women's decency. The decision was announced by the governor of the city upon orders of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which opted for an indefinite delay - in practice a cancellation - to avoid disputes and protests. The Ramallah governorate, in a statement quoted by MAAN, announced that "according to the requirements of the public interest, we decided to freeze and delay indefinitely the coronation of Miss Palestine 2009 that was scheduled to be held on December 26 in Ramallah". The statement said the decision was made out of respect for the anniversary of the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza - Operation 'Cast Lead' - which will be marked on Sunday, December 27. The operation ended on January 18 with a death toll of around 1,400 Palestinians. This anniversary was apparently no problem when scheduling the event, and it is probably not the real cause for its cancellation. MAAN underlined the heavy criticism that has rained down on the PNA - and its officials of the ministry of culture who were to help judge the contest - from the side of the Muslim clergy and Muslim politicians. (ANSAmed).

This latest There Is No Fun In Islam* Update comes from modern, moderate Indonesia, where they have found a marvelous accord between Islamic tradition and modern sensibilities: "Sexy Costumes Spark Halloween Raids in Indonesia's Kalimantan," from the Jakarta Globe, November 2 (thanks to all who sent this in):

A Halloween party in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Saturday night got more spooks than it hoped for when public order officers arrived to break up the festivities apparently because some of the young women were wearing costumes deemed too revealing.

The city's spokesman, Muhammad Faisal, said on Sunday that about 10 young women under the age of 22 were arrested at 11 p.m. after celebrating at a local nightspot called Platinum. The women, he said, tried to hide but the officers were able to find them.

"They were released this morning. They only had to bring their ID cards and did not need wear costumes like that to the party," he said.

"We had received complaints from residents that they were disturbed by such parties."

Although Samarinda does not have any regulations regarding inappropriate dress, Faisal said some residents had complained....

* The Ayatollah Khomeini said that.

Sharia alert from AFP, with thanks to Fjordman:

RIYADH -- Some 20 years after public screenings of films were banned, the first cinema will open next month in ultraconservative Saudi Arabia, but showing only cartoons, a source from the firm handling the project said on Sunday.

The cinema will open for women and children at a Riyadh hotel at the Eid Al Fitr feast at the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan on November 2 or 3, said the source who requested anonymity....

Cinema was once shown in private clubs in Saudi Arabia until all public screenings were banned because they were considered against Islamic law in the early 1980s.

Saudi Arabia is the only country to have banned cinema houses in the Muslim conservative Arab Gulf region.

Hamas has been clear all along about its desire to establish a Sharia state. Qalqilya voted for Hamas, they voted for the Sharia's disapproval of music, as well as its ban on mixed gatherings. From the BBC, with thanks to LGF:

A Hamas-led town council in the West Bank has banned outdoor music and dance performances planned as part of a summertime Palestinian festival.

A Qalqilya council spokesman said it was partly to avoid damaging the grass.

But he also said the council had been elected to protect the conservative values of the city, which included not approving of men and women mixing.

In May the militant Hamas won the West Bank town's elections, ousting the mainstream Fatah party.

Parliamentary challenge

Outdoor plays and concerts are being held across the West Bank this month as part of the Palestine International Festival.

"We were elected by a segment of people that wants us to preserve the conservative values of the city," council spokesman Mustafa Sabri told Reuters.

"The prevailing values reject mixing of the sexes. The people of Qalqilya have praised our move."

Sharia alert from AP, with thanks to Nicolei:

Authorities in Indonesia's Aceh province will begin caning convicted gamblers next week, as part of efforts to broaden the implementation of Islamic law in the region, a government official said yesterday.

The mayor of the east Aceh town of Bireuen Mustofa Gelanggang said authorities next Friday will cane at least 20 convicted gamblers with seven strokes of a 2m rattan stick following prayers at a local mosque. The date was set after Acting Aceh Governor Azwar Abubakar signed a law approving the punishment Friday.

The law comes two years after the conservative province became the first in Indonesia to open an Islamic court, which is empowered to hand down punishments according to the Koran.

Abubakar is expected to sign additional legislation in the coming weeks that expands the use of caning to punish adultery and other crimes, Gelanggang said.

Sharia alert from the Arab News, with thanks to Designnut:

SHARJAH, 4 June 2005 — An unmarried Indian couple have been sentenced to one year in prison for hugging and kissing in a taxi in the Emirate of Fujairah in the north of the UAE. A report in the local press identified the man as Anis Balnabar and the woman as Bani Bent.

It is the first such case reported in the UAE in recent years. According to the report, Bani Bent, who works at a national’s house in Fujairah, came out of the building and flagged a taxi. A short distance ahead, she picked up the man and both got into the back seat of the vehicle.

The taxi driver was told to drive to a park. As he was driving, the driver spied through the rear mirror that the couple were hugging and kissing each other. He turned the car and drove straight to the nearest police station....

Police questioned the two. The couple admitted that they were lovers and hugging and kissing each other in the car.

Police took them into custody and referred the case to prosecutors who charged the man with “indecent assault by consent,” and the woman with facilitating the offense. A court in Fujairah sentenced both to one year each in prison.