Report: Sharia law in Aceh heavily disadvantages women, poor

Jakarta - Islamic law in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh not only disproportionately targets women and the poor, but it is also creating divisions between the religious and secular police that might pose long-term security problems, a non-profit group said.

The Brussels-based International Crisis Group said women and the poor appear to be the primary targets of sharia enforcement, adding that vigilantism has also flared with the gradual implementation of Islamic law.

'Women complain that they are disproportionately the targets of WH raids, with far more operations against them for not wearing jilbabs [headscarves] than against men for not attending Friday prayer,' the group said.