Indonesia's Aceh bans women from nightspots after 11pm

2015-06-10 11:17:31

NEWS CENTER (DİHA) - The capital of Indonesia's Aceh province has imposed a partial curfew for women that it says will reduce sexual violence but which critics say is discriminatory.

Internet cafes, tourist sites, sports facilities and entertainment venues have been instructed to refuse service to women after 11pm unless they are accompanied by a husband or male family member. Women will also be barred from working in such businesses after the cut-off time. Aceh, alone among Indonesia provinces, implements Islamic law and makes homosexuality, gambling, and drinking alcohol punishable by caning.

Banda Aceh mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal said employing women until late at night constitutes exploitation and makes them vulnerable to sexual harassment. "We have studied the matter thoroughly and this is in line with the labour laws," Djamal said. "Our aim is to protect women employees, especially those working at entertainment spots." Women who break the rules would be reprimanded but businesses that insisted on making their female employees work beyond the curfew risked losing their licence.

Curfew criticised

The chief of Indonesia's national commission for violence against women said the measure would only restrict women's freedom and threaten their livelihoods. "The government should stop meddling in women's affairs," said Azriana, who like many Indonesians goes by only one name. "If the intention of the Aceh government is to provide protection for women, it must instead educate the public and men to respect women or provide security at the nightspots."

Azriana said the regulation would likely see Aceh's morality police nabbing any women out after 11pm and not just those in specific sectors. Ninik Rahayu from the Indonesian Institute for Empowerment of Women and Children said that the directive is discriminatory and contrary to Indonesia's constitution. She also said the policy shows the inability of the local government to provide adequate protection for residents.

The decision comes just a month after unmarried men and women were banned from riding together on a motorbike in one of Aceh's districts. Under 2013 legislation, women passengers behind a male driver were forbidden to straddle motorbikes and forced to ride side-saddle instead.

(nt)