Just before noon prayers one recent Friday — a mandatory session for men — the Shariah police’s all-female brigade hopped onto a Toyota pickup to begin patrols. Dressed in olive uniforms, the officers hewed to the city center, away from the areas worst hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
They urged stragglers to hurry to the nearest mosque and exhorted the recalcitrant to yield to God’s authority. “Dear followers of Islam, people of Banda Aceh,” blared a loudspeaker on the Toyota, “our city has applied Shariah. It’s almost praying time. Close all shops, stop all business activities. No more buying and selling.” [NYTimes.com] Read more
They urged stragglers to hurry to the nearest mosque and exhorted the recalcitrant to yield to God’s authority. “Dear followers of Islam, people of Banda Aceh,” blared a loudspeaker on the Toyota, “our city has applied Shariah. It’s almost praying time. Close all shops, stop all business activities. No more buying and selling.” [NYTimes.com] Read more
