Indonesia probes town’s use of Islamic law
West Java mayor summoned to explain regulation that residents must live by religious standards.
The government of Indonesia is investigating whether a town in West Java has violated national law by introducing Islamic law.
The mayor of Tasikmalaya has been called to Jakarta to explain the content of a regulation that declares that women should cover their heads and people should live in an Islamic manner.
The new regulations come as a result of pressure from the Islamic Defenders Front, a group known for violent acts against religious minorities in the multi-religious nation.
Indonesia is a secular country, but in recent years there have been 79 regulations related to Islamic law introduced in several regions.
Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen reports from West Java.