Gay men and women living in the Indonesian province of Aceh could be subjected to 100 lashes from a rattan cane if a new bylaw proposed by the Capital's deputy mayor is passed.
In the strict Islamic province of Aceh Shariah Law is followed to the letter. According to The Telegraph, "Shariah is the body of Islamic law implemented in Muslim countries across the world...although most modern Islamic nations operate a dual legal system with elements of secular law alongside it...All aspects of a Muslim's life are governed by Shariah, which is derived from a combination of sources, including the Koran...In a number of countries, Shariah Law is associated draconian punishments such as theft, adultery or blasphemy, such as amputation of limbs, death by stoning or lashes."
Most people affiliate Shariah Law with the oppression of Islamic women. One such example is that of a rape victim put on trial and found guilty of "being in the company of strangers in private and sentenced to be lashed." The rape victim was later pardoned.
This new bylaw proposed by the deputy mayor and supported by politicians will allow police to punish gay men and women, basically for being who they are.
The Deputy Mayor of Banda Aceh, Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal (a woman) believes that homosexuality is a "social disease that should be eradicated." The deputy mayor believes there should be harsher laws enforced against those that are gay.
According to the timesofummah.com the deputy mayor was complaining about the fact that there are no specific laws targeting gay people. She said, "There is no law that could be used to charge them. The existing [regulations] only stipulate about khalwat [being in close proximity] for intimate relations between unmarried males and females."
Gaystarnews.com reports the deputy mayor went on her anti-gay crusade after seeing a survey done in 2012 about the number of those with HIV in Aceh. It was not the number of those infected with HIV that startled the politician, it was the fact that some who participated in the survey admitted they were gay.
Gay Star News reports Djamal as saying, "If even one case of homosexuality is found, it's already a problem."
"We are really concerned about the behavior and activities of the gay community because their behavior is deviating from the Islamic Shariah," Djamal added.
Those who would speak up for the rights of gay citizens say the proposed bylaw is a step backward in civilization.
"We're living in 2013 not the Middle Ages, said Hartoyo, a secretary general for the advocacy group Our "Voice."
"It's sad to have a deputy mayor who thinks that way... other countries have started to allow homosexual marriage, why come up with such an idea to punish the LGBT community?" Hartoyo added.
If the bylaw is passed gay citizens will be facing a public punishment of 100 lashes.
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