Sharia Law : coming to a country near you

[Lapin]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/05/2785515.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/06/2786176.htm

I spotted these two stories in the ABC this week involving morality police in Malaysia and Indonesia.

In Malaysia it is apparently illegal for a man and woman who are not married to be alone together.
Under Malaysia's Islamic Sharia law, couples who are not married to each other should not be in a secluded area or confined space, which could give rise to suspicion that they are engaged in immoral acts.

In Indonesia staging a dance routine that is considered 'sexy' can get you 15 years in prison.
"We're charging them for preparing the dance and performing it in public, which is against morality," he added.
Achdiat did not give any details about the dance but said the dancers, who had performed at a live music cafe in Bandung, south of Jakarta, were in skimpy clothing.
"It could be described as sexy dancing. But more importantly, they were wearing minimal clothing and performing in public, which can stir desires," he said.
Under the country's anti-pornography law, the dancers could face up to 15 years in jail if convicted, he added.

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

Better not be having a beer over there either (http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesian-man-sentenced-to-jail-and-caning-in-malaysia-for-drinking-alcohol/329974)

If you’re a non-Muslim and yet your physical appearance looks like a Malay, please try not to eat in public, as the religious bodies will be letting out their minions to catch and punish the Muslim who are not fasting and have the guts to eat in public. Trust me, those minions won’t even bother to look at your Id. (http://cleffairy.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/observing-ramadan-in-malaysia/)

Well they've at least postponed her caning (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/malaysian-state-to-cane-woman-after-ramadan-1776652.html)

[Lapin]

Holliday in Dubai anyone?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/dubai/6949008/British-woman-arrested-in-Dubai-after-being-raped.html

A 23-year-old British woman on holiday in Dubai told police she had been raped, only to be arrested herself for having illegal sexual intercourse.

Dubai is popular with British holidaymakers but it has strict rules about sexual intercourse and alcohol. The woman, a Muslim of Pakistani descent, was celebrating her engagement to her 44-year-old boyfriend, and was allegedly attacked when she passed out in a hotel lavatory.

Despite approaching police about the attack, she was arrested after admitting to "illegal drinking" outside licensed premises as well as having sexual intercourse outside marriage. Her fiancé was also charged with the same offences.

The couple from London are now reportedly on bail and understood to be awaiting trial after having their passports confiscated. Should they be found guilty, they could face up to six years in jail.

[deesl4e]

I can remember being in Indonesia and Malaysia in the mid eighties. It certainly seems that they are tending towards fundamentalism more now than 25 years ago. In Malaysia I'm quite sure that there was sharia law in only a couple of states in the north east of the country and it certainly wasn't national. What I find bizarre is that it only applies to muslims and that a very large minority of the population wern't born into the muslim caste. Indonesia was quite open and tolerant and it was only pockets of the country ( I'm refering to java and sumatra ) where there was " heavy Islam". Certainly unaware of any moral laws back then.