Shariah Law and Acehnese Women: Marginalized Group of Marginalized Province

Abstract

This article examines the marginalization of Acehnese women from the enforcement of shariah law in Aceh. Nowadays, Aceh is the only province in Indonesia that implements Islamic law. However, it has been not the full implementation of Islamic law. Since 2001, only 4 regulations of Islamic law have been applied. The implementation of Islamic law in Aceh was the Indonesian government’s policy to resolve and weaken the legitimacy of Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (The Free Aceh Movement) by gaining supports fromsome Acehnese ulamaand academics.

Acehnese women have had the important role since the Acehnese sultanate era until GAM. However, in the process of consideration of Islamic law, Acehnese women did not get involved at all. Moreover, Acehnese women are most affected by the enforcement of shariah law. It seems that Acehnese women are the target of the enforcement because the Islamic law in Aceh focuses on the proper dress code according to the Islamic teaching. Therefore, Acehnese women are controlled of their headscarf and dress wearing. If considered from the history of Aceh, the implementation of Islamic law in Aceh marginalizes Acehnese women in the periphery area of power as Aceh.