News:
This September there were at least three negative stories reported by some national media in Indonesia on the implementation of local Sharia law in Aceh which all related to women. Jawa Pos National Network 12 September reported that 53 women and 3 men were arrested by Wilayatul Hisbah (the sharia police) in Aceh, because of wearing tight clothing and shorts for men. Previously Detik.com on September 9 also reported a teenage couple who were alone in a dorm room which was raided by the community and they will face a flogging punishment. On 1 September Detik.com and Merdeka.com reported that 7 women were arrested because they were engrossed in a karaoke cafe in a dark room at predawn time.
Comment:
The long controversy over Islamic Sharia Law in Aceh is always very seductive for the media, especially when it comes to women’s rights violation issues. The media eyes never blinked to watch and report how the implementation of local sharia law always discriminates and harms women’s right. Local laws related to the prohibition of women sitting astride while driving a motorcycle, obligations wearing hijab, and prohibitions of seclusion between man and woman, are examples of rules that have become an international spotlight and been considered to violate the women’s human rights in Aceh.
Alleged human rights violations caused by the controversial sharia law in Aceh – made the Delegation of European Union (EU) visit the Verandah of Mecca on June 17. The EU Ambassador, Olof Skoog, expressed his concern related to the alleged human rights violations against women and was trying to deeply emphasize about the fulfillment of women’s rights in the implementation of sharia, in a forum with the Governor of Aceh, Zaini Abdullah, local human rights activists, and members of the House of Representatives of Aceh (DPRA).
The West’s charge that Islamic law violates human rights of women in Aceh needs to be clearly examined, especially on the human rights standard itself that is always used as a benchmark by the West. The root of complications and dilemmas arising from the Sharia implementation in Aceh has PRECISELY originated from the subordination of the Sharia law into the secular man-made laws, such as human rights and democracy! Therefore, Islamic Sharia is dwarfed only to be local and partial, and subjugated to the man-made laws and the ideas of secular freedom! Human rights standards are NOT feasible and SHOULD NOT be used to evaluate the implementation of Islamic Sharia, as this will lead to dangerous consequences; that is Islamic Sharia which is the law of Allah will always be in a subordinate position, while the idea of human rights and democracy which are man-made laws, always be the superordinate for the Law of Allah.
On the other hand this is merely a disgusting opinion theater played by the West and its liberal media networks and becomes their modus operandi to control Muslim minds about sharia. They are more concerned with the deprivation of very few women’s rights to drive cars in Saudi, but turn a blind eye to the massive violence against women every minute in their own countries. They are also more interested in the education rights of one single person Malala in Afghanistan, but suffering chronic myopia into hundreds of victims of Afghan Muslim children in the attack done by NATO’s drones. And they choose to continue campaigning that Sharia laws discriminate against women in Aceh, rather than offering solutions to the millions of Indonesian women who are struggling to afford food and subsequently exploited when they become millions of domestic workers abroad. Hypocrites!
Their paranoia against Islamic Sharia has spawned systematic and planned “sharia demonisation projects” locally and internationally. The West fears that Muslims will re-implement Islamic law that will become the key to victory, glory, and security for the Muslims even for the whole world. Islamic Sharia made by Allah سبحانه وتعالى that is implemented thoroughly and fairly will be able to resolve all the problems of the humankind. They keep trying to criticize and find faults with those who still cling to the glory of Islamic law and who do not agree with the flawed liberal secular values. As recommended by Cheryl Bernard, The Rand Corporation researcher in its report entitled “Civil Democratic Islam, Partners, Resources, and Strategies”, Cheryl wrote a few ideas that should be constantly raised to besmirch the image of Islam, for example violations of democracy and human rights, polygamy, criminal sanctions, Islamic justice, minority, women’s clothes and permission for the husband to beat the wife.
We must also not forget the history, the land of Aceh and throughout the Archipelago, Islamic Sharia was once implemented comprehensively for nearly 10 centuries under the Islamic Caliphate. Moreover historians call the era of Islam in the Archipelago as the Golden Era (golden age). It is important to note:
Firstly, during the golden era the implementation of Islamic Sharia in Aceh was not subordinated by foreign powers and man-made laws as is the case today, so that there is no problematic complication like the current conditions.
Secondly, the implementation of Islamic law at that time was under the leadership of a global Islamic Khilafah, so the scale was not merely a local application in Aceh, but throughout the Archipelago and the whole regions ruled by Islam. The women of Aceh had experienced for many centuries how Islamic law dignified them, raised their public roles, and secured their honors. Therefore, great names of Aceh Muslim Women like Laksamana Hayati and Cut Nyak Dien are only a few examples of the many Muslim woman figures that had major roles in the community, absolutely away from the image of being unfettered and discriminated as often narrated by the Western media.
Historical facts cannot be eliminated, that Islam has brought prosperity and blessing to Aceh and the Archipelago for centuries, while the Western colonialism – both classical and modern imperialism – have impoverished and oppressed until this very day. And they have continued to work day and night to demonise Islamic law, as Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:
يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ
“They desire to extinguish Allah’s Light with their mouths but Allah will perfect His Light, though the kafirun hate it.”
(as-Saff 61:8)
Written for Central Media Office Hizb ut Tahrir by
Fika Komara
Member of Central Media Office Hizb ut Tahrir