Indonesia: First Sharia Court for Aceh

As part of the Indonesian government's compromise with Aceh rebels, it has recently accepted the imposition of 'Sharia based' family laws in Aceh, contradicting the trend towards a more progressive interpretation of Muslim personal status laws evident elsewhere in Indonesia. There has also been the imposition of dress codes for women in Aceh, enforced through physical violence. Women's groups from the region have already noted the severely negative impact this has had on their rights. But as part of Jakarta's peace settlement with pro-independence rebels in Aceh, the province has been granted the right to partially implement its own laws, allowing those found guilty to be punished under Islamic regulations.