05/30/10

From AP

Tight pants ban takes effect in Indonesia's Aceh

By FAKHRURRADZIE GADE


MEULABOH, Indonesia (AP) - Authorities in a devoutly Islamic district of Indonesia's Aceh province have distributed 20,000 long skirts and prohibited shops from selling tight dresses as a regulation banning Muslim women from wearing revealing clothing took effect Thursday.

The long skirts are to be given to Muslim women caught violating the dress code during a two-month campaign to enforce the regulation, said Ramli Mansur, head of West Aceh district.

Islamic police will determine whether a woman's clothing violates the dress code, he said.

During raids Thursday, Islamic police caught 18 women traveling on motorbikes who were wearing traditional headscarves but were also dressed in jeans. Each woman was given a long skirt and her pants were confiscated. They were released from police custody after giving their identities and receiving advice from Islamic preachers.

The Roman Catholic church once had a religious police force with similar functions. This was a band of women, dressed as penguins, who traveled around armed with yard sticks and billy clubs to measure clothing lengths and administer savage beatings to violators. They also called down the wrath of Almighty God on those who displeased them and pronounced them as doomed to an eternity in hell. The Pope has not yet ruled on whether or not they had the authority to cast these pronouncements, but generations of catholic school children have grown up with psycho-social disabilities.

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Meanwhile, back in Indonesia:

I bet they don't let them vote either. That would be okay.

This would be a humoungous freaking improvement. Allah Akhbar!