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Civil servants banned from sporting beards
BANDA ACEH: The South Aceh regency administration has issued an ordinance that bans civil servants from wearing beards and offenders will no longer be allowed to enter their offices
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ANDA ACEH: The South Aceh regency administration has issued an ordinance that bans civil servants from wearing beards and offenders will no longer be allowed to enter their offices.
“I will take action against those who violate the regulation,” Regent Husin said on Wednesday.
“Aceh is not Iran,” he added.
The administration has also prohibited female civil servants from wearing tight trousers at work.
The beard ban has both supporters and detractors among Husin’s subordinates.
Some civil servants said that they cannot believe the administration had issued such a regulation.
“We don’t know if this is connected to recent acts of terrorism in Aceh,” said Suryawan, a local
civil servant.
The beard ban is both unreasonable and strange, he added.
“Growing a beard is sunnah [recommended but not required] for Muslims. The Prophet Muhammad recommended that Muslims to grow beards,” said Suryawan.
Growing a beard is a special decision for Muslim men. A beard demonstrates a man’s piety, especially for clerics or for men living in pesantren (Islamic boarding schools).
“This ordinance is unreasonable for civil servants and the community at large,” said Sur-yawan. — JP
