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Govt told not to revoke sharia inspired bylaws
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A masked man canes a convicted man found to have violated Qanun Jinayat, or Aceh's Islamic Criminal Bylaw, at the Rukoh Mosque yard in the Syiah Kuala subdistrict of Banda Aceh regency. (Antara/Irwansyah Putra)
T
he Mathla'ul Anwar Islamic organization has called on the government not to revoke sharia inspired bylaws that are in place in many regions across the country as it says such bylaws are guardians of the people’s morality.
Speaking to the press after meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday, Mathla'ul Anwar Chairman Ahmad Syadeli Karim said that such bylaws are needed to prevent the country from sliding into further moral decadence.
"We support the government's efforts to increase investment, but the bylaws that are used to regulate goodness like zakat (obligatory alms for Muslims) for instance, and those that guard morality, should be strengthened, not to be revoked," Ahmad said at the State Palace.
Last week, Jokowi said he would revoke 3,000 problematic bylaws in provinces, cities and regencies across the country to try and boost investment in infrastructure projects. Among the bylaws to be scrapped are those inspired by Islamic teachings.
The President has instructed Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo to complete the bylaw revocations in July. (bbn)
