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olice have banned karaoke parlor and nightspot hostesses in Lamongan, East Java, from wearing skimpy outfits, such as tight short skirts, reasoning that they could arouse lust and lead to sexual harassment.

Police will temporary close and even revoke the business license of a nightspot where skimpy outfits continue to be worn.

“We implemented the regulation after receiving pressure from various religious leaders to curb nightspots that breach Eastern and Islamic norms,” said Lamongan Police deputy chief Comr. Tony Sugiyanto on Monday.

Tony said nightspot owners and operators had agreed to comply with the regulation in a meeting held at the Lamongan Police station on Feb. 26. They also called on nightspot hostesses and operators to abide by the regulation of not wearing short tight skirts or sleeveless clothing that were against religious norms in Lamongan.

Lamongan is located around 50 kilometers west of Surabaya. A majority of its 1.2 million population are Muslims. Apart from its beautiful beaches, Lamongan has been proposed as site for the relocation of Juanda Airport and Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya.

Besides the ban on sexy clothes, the Lamongan office of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) also urged the provincial administration to issue a bylaw on entertainment establishments, such as cafes and karaoke parlors, so they would not be used as places of prostitution and alcohol consumption.

“Islam strongly prohibits alcohol and we will further urge the government to issue a regulation against alcohol, including the dress code for women,” said Lamongan MUI head Abdul Aziz Choiri.

A nightspot operator in Lamongan, Effendi, said he was compelled to follow the regulation despite protests from a large number of male patrons.

A similar regulation banning skimpy clothing is enforced in Castellammare, Stabia, Italy, as such clothing is regarded as anti-social. Hundreds of residents protested Mayor Luigo Bobbio’s policy, which imposes a fine of between ¤20 and ¤450 for offenders.

In their Facebook accounts, a number of women have voiced opposition to the ban on sexy clothes for women working in nightspots.

A public relations graduate in Surabaya, Yuyun, said she had no problem with women wearing sexy clothes when worn under particular circumstances, such as those working as hostesses in nightspots or as sales promotion girls.

“As long as they do not disrupt peace and order or bother other people, why should sexy clothing be banned?” she queried.

Gaya Nusantara activist Dede Oetomo said it would be better if the police tried to arrest those involved in corruption, abusers of women and child and other criminals, rather than dealing with religious issues, such as a dress code for women.

“The police are wrong because they are unable to differentiate between state and religious matters,” he said.