Heard about this the other day on The Michael Medved Show:
Banda Aceh, Indonesia – Adulterers can be stoned to death and homosexuality is punishable by steep prison terms under a new law passed unanimously in Indonesia’s devoutly Muslim province of Aceh on Monday.
Aceh’s regional parliament adopted the bill despite strong objections from human rights groups and the province’s deputy governor, who said the legislation needed more careful consideration because it imposed a new form of capital punishment.
The chairman of the 69-seat house asked whether the bill could be passed into law and members answered in unison: “Yes, it can.” [I wonder what that was inspired from?- wordsmith] Some members of the moderate Democrat Party had voiced reservations, but none of them voted against the bill.
The law, which reinforces the province’s already strict Islamic laws, is to take effect within 30 days. Its passage comes two weeks before a new assembly led by the moderate Aceh Party is to be sworn in after the defeat of conservative Muslim parties in local elections.Aceh, where Islam first arrived in Indonesia from Saudi Arabia centuries ago, enjoys some autonomy from the central government.
A long-running Islamic insurgency in the province ended in 2005, after the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004 killed more than 100,000 people there. [A message from Allah, perhaps?- wordsmith]
A version of Islamic law, or Sharia, introduced in Aceh in 2001 bans gambling and alcohol, and makes it compulsory for women to wear head scarves. Dozens of public canings have been carried out by police against those who violate the law.
The majority of Indonesia’s Muslims practice a moderate form of the faith, and surveys suggest they do not support such hard-line interpretations of the Koran, the Muslim holy book.
The new Indonesian law also imposes tough sentences and fines, to be paid in gold, for rape and pedophilia, but the most hotly disputed focus was on adultery. The law states that offending married couples can be punished by a minimum of 100 lashings and a maximum of stoning to death. [Note to Clinton, Edwards, and Sanford: Vacation elsewhere. - wordsmith]
It also imposes severe prison terms for other behavior considered morally unacceptable, including homosexuality, which will be punishable by public lashings and more than eight years in prison.
Aceh Vice Gov. Muhammad Nazar said that even though his office opposed the clause on stoning to death, it had no legal power to block the legislation.
“Whatever law is passed we have to enforce it,” he said.
I love my country. I love being an American. God bless the USA!
We’ll be hearing the outrage from western Gay and Women’s-rights groups in 3, 2, 1….1…..1…..1…..1…..1….
You can get life in prison in Michigan for adultery (http://web.archive.org/web/20070206173058/http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070115/COL04/701150333), plus adultery is violation of the UCMJ. I understand the necessity for the UCMJ to keep good order, but I tend to think most of our sex laws (for consenting adults) are based upon religious issues JUST like the Indonesians.
@Blast
Keep some perspective. Those “laws” are now thought of as “Blue Laws”. and nobody, including the Right will ever enforce those laws. Find me a case where that law was enforced during the past 100 years, and I’ll take your comment seriously. If you can find ANY case where it’s being used today. I will put my money where my mouth is, and buy that person a lawyer right the freak now…No worse enemy, no better friend.
BTW. NONE of our laws, let alone the Blue ones have EVER condoned stoning, or the killing of the supposed perp for adultery, (don’t go go back to the 1600′s or I’ll verbally smite thee) so your entire point becomes moot, and ONLY shows your refusal to see reality in an objective manner.
Quit being so damn attached to political rhetoric. You’re bigger than that.
Seek truth. Truth is non-political.
I remember the death penalty in the UCMJ was only for an enlisted man banging an officers wife. Nothing religious about that. Never heard of it being used since I first enlisted in 1959.
Only females will be stoned to death under the joke religion, (actually a child rapist warlords method of controlling the people), some call Islam.
The only other death-penalty in the USMJ was falling asleep during watch during wartime…Or treason. The officer’s wife thing must have been belayed before I went in in 1979.
I thought it was de rigueur to defenstrate homosexuals… well, sometime there is an argument: drop them from a very high wall, or drop a very high wall on them.
Iran is the country with the wall droppage on the gays penalty. (Or gayage dropping OFF wall, depending on the judge), but in the interests of modernity, the accused can choose hanging…The slow kind, not the dropping kind. I have the videos.
Kinda like what the Republicans do in Michigan on a regular basis, personally attended to by Bush and Cheney. Just ask a Liberal, they’ll tell ya.
Sharia is cruel and unusual punishment, sexist and has roots in the 9th century.
Why anyone would to choose to live under those conditions in this day and age
is unimaginable.
The UCMJ has practical applications for the Military but has limitations,
however it was firm, fair and appeals are automatic. In 28 years of Service
I had no problems with it. As Service is voluntary it works for those that choose
to serve. I wish I could say the same for the US Tax Code.