Due to a bylaw passed late last year, Aceh’s strict implementation of sharia law now not only applies to Muslims but to all people in the region. Yesterday, officials caned an elderly Christian woman for selling alcohol, the first non-Muslim to receive corporal punishment for breaking the law. Two tourists also fell afoul of the Aceh’s strict religious laws yesterday, but managed to escape with just a warning.
The tourists, a German couple identified as Andre Brun and Dominika Lzatskova, were sunbathing at Lhokseumawe’s Ujung Blang beach yesterday afternoon. Brun was reportedly only wearing shorts while Lzatskova wore a two-piece bikini.
However, locals were apparently “disturbed” by the tourists’ bathing suits and reported them to the Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) and the Wilayatul Hisbah sharia enforcers.
When the authorities arrived, the tourists had already put on more clothing but they were still taken to the Satpol PP office for questioning.
“They were reminded not to bathe in the open in Aceh, and not to only wear underwear, because sharia law applies in Aceh,” said Satpol PP and Wilayatul Hisbah Chief M Irsyadi, as quoted by Liputan6.
The Germans reportedly pleaded ignorance about the local laws and were soon released after being given a warning.
The German couple pictured leaving the Satpol PP police yesterday.
We’re guessing that’s the last time those tourists will be coming to Aceh.
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