Wilayatul Hisbah

Part of a series on
Islamism
Fundamentals
Ideologies
Islamic fundamentalism
Concepts
Influences
Movements
Scholastic

Political

Militant

Key texts
Heads of state
Key ideologues
Criticism of Islamism
Related topics

Islam portal

icon Politics portal

Wilayatul Hisbah is the Islamic religious police force responsible for the enforcement of sharia law in the autonomous region of Aceh, Indonesia.[1] The origins of this force can be traced to 2001 when a special autonomy law was promulgated to allow for the state of Aceh to implement more elements of sharia law, which the Indonesian government see as a useful way of decreasing local fervor for Acehnese independence.[2] These officers have reportedly been patrolling the streets since 2002,[3] but the force was formally established in 2004,[2][4] It was established at both provincial level as well as the district and municipality levels.[4] The units were formed in response to an increase in "unmarried couples, Muslim women without headscarves or those wearing tight clothes, and people drinking alcohol or gambling,” which authorities perceived to have become more common following contact with Western ideas after foreign aid was provided after the 2004 Indonesian tsunami.[5] It was described in a 2014 report as being a "voluntary" force.[6]

The force's integrity has been questioned occasionally. Its public image deteriorated heavily in 2010 after three officials were found to have raped a girl that was being detained by them in West Aceh Regency.[4] In another instance, an officer was found to be engaging in sex with his girlfriend in a Banda Aceh bathroom.[7]

  1. ^ "Sharia police: who are they?". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b Conflict, Institute for Policy Analysis of (2015). "POLITICAL POWER STRUGGLES IN ACEH". Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict: 1–11. {{cite journal}}: |first1= has generic name (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Kloos, David (2015). "Review of Shariʿa and Social Engineering: The Implementation of Islamic Law in Contemporary Aceh, Indonesia". Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde. 171 (2/3): 380–383. doi:10.1163/22134379-17102013. ISSN 0006-2294. JSTOR 43818001.
  4. ^ a b c Ichwan, Moch Nur (2011). "OFFICIAL ULEMA AND THE POLITICS OF RE-ISLAMIZATION: THE MAJELIS PERMUSYAWARATAN ULAMA, SHARĪʿATIZATION AND CONTESTED AUTHORITY IN POST-NEW ORDER ACEH". Journal of Islamic Studies. 22 (2): 183–214. doi:10.1093/jis/etr026. ISSN 0955-2340. JSTOR 26200830.
  5. ^ Cox, Daniel G.; Ryan, Alex (2015). "Countering Insurgency and the Myth of "The Cause"". Journal of Strategic Security. 8 (1–2): 43–62. doi:10.5038/1944-0472.8.1.1419. ISSN 1944-0464. JSTOR 26465204.
  6. ^ VIGNATO, SILVIA (2014). "Sensual subjects in an Islamic epistemological arena: Negotiating the borders of aurat in Aceh". La Ricerca Folklorica (69): 67–81. ISSN 0391-9099. JSTOR 43897027.
  7. ^ Fountain, Philip (2016). "Mennonite Disaster Relief and the Interfaith Encounter in Aceh, Indonesia". Asian Ethnology. 75 (1): 163–190. doi:10.18874/ae.75.1.07. ISSN 1882-6865. JSTOR 43855330.