Lubna Ahmed Al Hussein is not a household name in Indonesia. Not many people anywhere in the world knew of this female Sudanese journalist until earlier this month, when her name hit the headlines for her courage in challenging her government by refusing to admit that she had committed a crime. She was charged with breaking a law that forbids women from wearing clothes that cause "public uneasiness" - she was wearing a blouse and trousers in a restaurant in Khartoum.
Your comments:
Pluralism in Indonesia is limited to certain places; this is a current fact of life. The Balinese dress differently now compared to 20 years ago. Why did it change? What has changed?
Lack of judgment, open-mindedness and understanding has resulted in an incorrect definition as to what prostitution is in Tangerang.
Do the lawmakers realize they are protecting and/or encouraging sexual offenders by giving them a lawful reason to assume that female person walking along at night is a prostitute?
Do the lawmakers realize this law is discriminating against low-income earners, those who cannot afford to go to work by car and have no choice but to work night shifts? Do they realize they are discriminating against a significant percentage of their voters? Will Indonesia still be able to preserve its unique culture? Or will Indonesia simply see changes in culture as a natural evolution? If so, why does UNESCO preserve historic buildings and sites?
Fransisca
Jakarta
Thank you for writing such a lucid commentary about Lubna's case. I am an early, articulate supporter of hers and have written frequently, personally and with passion about the erosion of international women's rights - thanks to Lubna. Yours may be the first post I've read suggesting that the Koran supports pluralism.
I'm trying to understand moderate Islam's view of pluralism and also the concept of "self" in the modern world. The fact that I am so confused about the goals of Islam, and my own right to exist and flourish side by side with Muslims, suggests that moderates like us haven't done enough communicating.
I am concerned that moderate Muslims around the world don't understand this march of fundamentalism and the erosion of women's rights that accompany it. We deal with fundamentalist forces in America, and they, too, wish to take back rights granted to women.
The situation is not as extreme, but the objectives are clear and not favorable to women.
Anne
United States
I am with Kartika Inggas on her "Pluralism, Indonesia's historic strength". Like Kartika, I also hope Lubna Ahmad l-Husein wins her case on Sept. 7 because the issue is not just about women wearing pants; it is about women's rights and human rights.
Let us hope no Indonesian woman will ever have to experience what Lubna did. It would be too embarrassing if not degrading.
Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta
Letter: Aceh doesn't need sharia law -- Sept. 2, p. 20
When the sharia law was forcefully implemented on the Acehnese, the religious establishment announced publicly that it would make Aceh better in many ways.
The implementation of sharia law was a plot to win over the support of the religious establishment by the then president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid in the struggle against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Your comments:
Sharia is unIslamic and is driven by uneducated, self-important "leaders" who create it to give them an authority they do not deserve.
God judges you on how you follow Him because you choose to obey Him, not how well you obey some ridiculous rules made up by ignorant (always male) fools with beards and silly hats.
As always, its primary factor is insecurity - punish people who question the rules or don't comply, so they don't find out the "leaders" are a bunch of hypocrites and liars who know nothing.
Fransisca
Sydney
There shall be no compulsion in religion: The right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in God has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. God is the Hearer, Omniscient.
(Koran translation 2:256) "Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. Do you want to force the people to become believers?" (Koran translation 10:99) "He said, *O my people, what if I have a solid proof from my Lord? What if He has blessed me out of His mercy, though you cannot see it?'"
Are we going to force you to believe therein? (Koran translation 11:28) "Proclaim: *This is the truth from your Lord,' then whoever wills let him believe, and whoever wills let him disbelieve."
We have prepared for the transgressors a fire that will completely surround them. When they scream for help, they will be given a liquid like concentrated acid that scalds the faces.
What a miserable drink! What a miserable destiny! (Koran translation 18:29) "If they discover you, they will stone you, or force you to revert to their religion, then you can never succeed." (Koran translation 18:20)
Mansur
Indonesia
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