In countries where Muslims are a strong majority it is just a matter of time, I believe, before Sharia becomes the law of the land. In this portion of Indonesia it has been so for 15 years. My fear is that it will spread to the rest of the country. Muslims in Banda Aceh must be confused as to why God would allow a devastating tsunami to destroy more than a quarter million people and leave two-thirds of a million homeless just 3 years after adopting Sharia. One would think God would honour such a commitment if He actually wanted it.
Does Sharia honour God? Can morality be legislated? Only the appearance of morality can be legislated which means immorality does not improve, it simply goes underground. Jesus understood that when He told us that the 'Law' says, 'You shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Morality is a function of conscience, and conscience is attached to 'the highest (morality) that you know'. If you have been taught high moral values you will be a moral person. But those values must be real, not superficial as Sharia teaches.
Moral behaviour is only holy when it is chosen by the individual not by the state.
A 20-year-old woman has been publicly caned for getting “too close” to her boyfriend in the Indonesian province of Aceh – the latest such punishment in the conservative region, which implements Sharia law in full.
The woman was one of five people to receive a caning on Monday in front of a crowd outside the Masjid Al-Muttaqin mosque in the regional capital of Banda Aceh. The others included her 21-year-old boyfriend and three others who were accused of gambling.
After being read out their offenses, those judged “guilty” were brought on stage to receive their punishment before a crowd of hundreds. The mosque is located next to a busy market so the spectacle attracted many onlookers who were simply doing their shopping.
“It’s not to be laughed at or watched. But this is a lesson for us all to enforce complete Islamic law in in Banda Aceh,” a local official, Bakhtiar, said before the punishment, local media reported.
“If there are people who do not agree with Islamic law, please get out of Aceh,” he added.
Well, more than a quarter million people got out of Aceh in one terrible day. Was that a judgement? Or was it perhaps mercy? Did God remove those people from an evil, insane society for their sakes?
The couple were convicted of a charge known as “khalwat,” which is defined in the legal code as “any activity carried out by two or more individuals of opposite sex who are not bound as a family nor legally bound under marriage.” This can range from sexual intercourse before marriage to merely being in close proximity or holding hands.
Earlier in the month on October 13, people were similarly flogged, one of whom was a 21-year-old-woman who apparently stood too close to her boyfriend. Another woman was temporarily reprieved because she was pregnant, but officials confirmed she would be punished after giving birth.
Although Indonesia is officially a secular state, a number of provinces enjoy significant autonomy from the central government. Of these, Aceh is the only region to apply Islamic Sharia law in full, since special autonomy legislation was passed in 2001. The strict application of the Islamic codes means relatively innocuous behavior such as touching, hugging and kissing between unmarried couples is forbidden. Homosexuality and drinking alcohol are also prohibited.
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