Not to mention the churches that have been attacked outright. Islamic Tolerance Alert. “Hundreds to worship outside churches amid tight security,” by Yuli Tri Suwarni and Suherdjoko for the Jakarta Post, December 24: Fifteen police officers backed up by soldiers and local residents will guard every church across West Java during Christmas celebrations to prevent […]
Indonesia: Mob of 1000 Muslims storms a church under construction
The 7th-century Pact of Umar forbade the construction of new churches or repair of existing ones. The pact is in the spirit of Qur’an 9:29, which commands that non-Muslims “feel themselves subdued” — a fundamental reason why incidents such as this are neither new nor isolated. “A thousand Islamic extremists, including women and children, storm […]
Raids in Indonesia: Drugs? Terrorism? Smuggling? Nah — sexy Halloween costumes
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, […]
Indonesia: Women in Aceh must wear skirts, not pants
Sharia Alert, as Aceh weighs in on a currently active discussion in Islamic jurisprudence: whether women can wear pants. Sudan relented on a flogging sentence after intense international scrutiny, while Egypt’s Mufti Ali Gomaa said pants are permissible, as long as they are “modest.” Muhammad, for his part, “cursed the effeminate men and those women […]
Indonesia: Stoning, caning now the law in Aceh
What fun the Sharia advocates will have in Europe. An update on this story. “Stoning, Caning Are Now the Law in Aceh, Local Legislator Says,” by Nurdin Hasan and Anita Rachman for the Jakarta Globe, October 15 (thanks to The Religion of Peace): Banda Aceh. A controversial bill that includes a provision for the stoning […]
Indonesian province: Muslim civil servants obliged to read Koran on Friday
Sharia Alert from modern, moderate Indonesia — but wait a minute! I thought there was “no compulsion in religion”! “Muslim civil servants in Gorontalo obliged to read Koran on Friday,” from The Jakarta Post, October 17 (thanks to The Religion of Peace): Gorontalo mayoralty administration has obliged its Muslim civil servants to read the Koran […]
Indonesia: Islamic cleric dodges molestation charges for marrying 12-year-old
Prosecutors say they will appeal. Widianto, for his part, defended himself “by saying the marriage was allowed by his religion.” Child protection advocates are quite correct that the ruling sets a bad precedent, but the precedent that contributes even more to the persistence of child marriage in Islamic countries is Muhammad’s own example, having married […]
Indonesian government to ask supreme court to review Sharia penalties in Aceh
Any potential ruling would set a far-reaching precedent for Indonesia’s handling of encroaching Sharia law. For that matter, any inaction by the court system and by the broader government also sends a message: that the non-Islamic government will take the path of least resistance and turn a blind eye to subversion of the national constitution. […]
Indonesia stoning law: “This law will make people afraid to visit Aceh. It’s medieval and stupid.”
Indonesia continues its march toward Sharia. More on this story. “Unease in Indonesia after Aceh passes strict sharia bill,” from Deutsche Presse Agentur, September 15 (thanks to James): Jakarta – Some Indonesians expressed dismay Tuesday after the parliament in the staunchly Muslim province of Aceh approved an Islamic crime bill that allows stoning-to-death for adulterers. […]