Indonesian Province Puts the Kibosh on Tight Pants for Women
Filed under: News
Devie Ramazhana, a 2005 Miss Indonesia finalist from the Aceh Province. Photo: Bay Ismoyo, AFP/Getty Images
The predominantly Muslim country's Aceh province, which follows the Islamic sharia as its legal code, has announced plans to crack down on women wearing tight pants, reports Reuters.
West Aceh regent Ramli Mansyur told the news agency this week that new laws will demand that women wear Muslim dress, at the risk of having their inappropriate trousers destroyed.
"Trousers are allowed, as long as the woman also wears a long skirt down to her ankles," Mansyur told Reuters. "The fashion has become too open, and it embarrasses me."
Officials will also be taking action against tucking in the new regulations, which reportedly could go into effect in December.
"If a woman wears pants and tucks her top in, that's wrong," Nur Djuned, head of the sharia department, told sources.
"Even if she is wearing a headscarf, her dress can still show her body shape, and that is not perfect Muslim dress."
Though women's wardrobe options will take a hit, their wallets won't. Reuters reports that Mansyur has ordered 7,000 skirts for women who can't afford to purchase approved clothing.
The tight pants ban is just the latest in a string of dress code clampdowns in Muslim countries, including a recent Iranian ban on curvy mannequins and Malaysian protests against Beyonce's provocative concert outfits.
So what do you think? Are these rules reasonable, or do you think the government should keep out of women's closets? Leave a comment!
Indonesia isn't the only one banning tight trousers. Read about this British headmaster's dress code controversy.
Dingobaby 10-29-2009 @ 4:43PM
How completely paranoid and sad..
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chris 10-29-2009 @ 5:32PM
and they say Muslims are peaceful, they have a state religion. in America, we have many, and the person has a choice to follow one, or none. freedom of choice. what a repressed people. just think, they would STONE a woman for this!!!
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Muslimah4Life 10-30-2009 @ 1:40AM
When a so-called Christian Nation is forcing people to do things out of FEAR, who is better!? Dumb the people down to complete STUPIDITY or make them think twice about what they are doing to themselves thus preventing future problems. Islam is not backwards other people/culture/nations are...nakedness is intelligence, and modesty is stupidity??? Right?
Tom Martin 10-30-2009 @ 4:34AM
Yes, Muslimah, nakedness is intelligent and modesty is stupid, in warm weather. We need more vitamin D, it is best to get it from the sun. Arab women especially get too little vitamin D, they often get sick sooner. This predominantly Christian country is stupid not to allow public nudity. I don't mean public sex of course, just normal nonsexual nudity. We should be like some Amazon Indian tribes, hardly any other tribe allows nudity anymore due to these stupid major religions.
BOBHIB 10-29-2009 @ 5:48PM
America in 20 years if this current crop of politicians in Washington is allowed to continue.
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Steven 10-29-2009 @ 5:40PM
These countries wonder why they are so far behind the rest of world as far as self reliance and industrialization. This is disgusting and sad.
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my98xlclassic 10-29-2009 @ 5:58PM
What exactly were you expecting from the third world !
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Muslimah4Life 10-30-2009 @ 1:39AM
America is the only country that owe's the world Trillions-gazillions of dollars, yet they're not considered 3rd world...they use food stamps and other means to keep them running...are they not 3rd world too. Define 3rd world? Cause I would believe America falls perfectly in it! If you need not to borrow you, need not to be called 3rd world. But you borrow plenty more than others, so therefore you are just like the rest of the world...3rd- or maybe even below ALL standards!
You're not a leader but a forcer!
Sharon 10-30-2009 @ 1:11PM
In America, one of the founding principles is to keep the government out of religion (and vice versa). This was not the case for many countries historically, where the religion and state were one in the same. In countries like Indonesia, the country's laws are decided by their religion, which is Muslim. How ever this came to be decided upon, I don't know, but it is a fact of the laws of their land. They don't live in a democracy where they are free to choose (and to have the country a church/state was their choice anyway). If I traveled to Indonesia, I would respect the law and obey it, even if I don't agree with it. If it bothered me so much, I am free to not visit. In America, I am free to disagree and choose what I want to wear, as this is a democracy.But if I were an Indonesian resident, I would not be free. My only choices would be to leave the country or stay and abide by the laws of the land. It's sort of ignorant of Indonesian culture to assume our liberties apply to them.
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mezl 10-29-2009 @ 8:07PM
shouldn't grown women be able to decide for them selves what to wear, and how to wear it? and our ancient ancestors and some tribal peoples walked around very nearly naked due to the hot weather, and i'm pretty sure they still lived by good moral codes...
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robynn2o11 10-29-2009 @ 8:29PM
that is freakin crazy dude. just crazy...
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mary 10-29-2009 @ 8:56PM
What stupid ass men those muslims are! dont they want to see women dressed attractively?? they are biting off there nose to spite their face lol... enjoy the women now... dont wait till you die & expect 68 virgins...they may be ugly virgins.. they may be other men hahha. idiots enjoy your life NOW .. laugh dance, sing do all the things NORMAL men do.. what a backward society
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Muslimah4Life 10-30-2009 @ 1:39AM
When you're 50 year old mother dresses like a 13 year old Hannah Montana chick...would you walk down the street with her? Or would you prefer she have some sense to dress accordingly?
What the HELL happened to people's common sense...did it get diluted by this idiot generation!
alschrod 10-29-2009 @ 9:40PM
Muslim rules on womens' dress, as well as the Koran itself is subject to mans' interpretation. Just as Hasidic Jews, quakers, and Hindu women dress according to "tradition", true believers of Islam need not be dependent on dress codes. As more and more females gain education and influence, and hard-line religious leaders die off, western dress like Syrian women already enjoy will become the inevitable style for all islam. Maybe not next year--but there's no way to stop the momentum for this to happen.
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farah 10-29-2009 @ 10:06PM
Muslim women are so brainwashed. They need to get a mind of their own and think for themselves. I feel bad for all muslims.
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Muslimah4Life 10-30-2009 @ 1:53AM
I am a muslim woman who converted from Christianity to Islam and my dear friend my mind is still running well on its own. If showing off your parts to gain attention is your prerogative other than using your brain, than keep your opinions to yourself. I cover because I choose to. I use my brain cause I want to. My ass and breast should not get me a job/my career or attention, my mind and knowledge and mannerism should! The Quran does not deliberate women it stands for women. It was women who preserved the Quran and Islam and it was women who keep it running! I am a Woman and I am Muslim!
Tom Martin 10-30-2009 @ 4:45AM
Muslimah, the Quran is just as oppressive to women as the Christian Bible. Both say wives must obey husbands. The Qur'an even says men can spank wives. The Bible does not ban spanking wives, so for centuries it was legal in Christian countries. In the Qur'an women's testimony is worth half of men's. In the Bible, women can't speak in church, and can't have authority over men. And only men can choose divorce, like in the Qur'an. In the Old Testament, men can have more than one wife, women only one husband, like in the Qur'an.
Sarah 10-29-2009 @ 11:28PM
All this covering up of women is really a Muslim statement about its men. They are ADMITTINGLY out of control, sexual preditors - otherwise why shouldn't a woman be able to dress as she pleases? Religion my ass...
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Muslimah4Life 10-30-2009 @ 1:38AM
America (Christian Nation) has more RAPPINGs, Pedophiles, Perverts, and murderers than any other country! That's a fact that CNN can't denie!
Tom Martin 10-30-2009 @ 4:55AM
Muslimah, Russia, which is now less than half Christian, and has more Muslims than America, has more rapes, perverts and far more murders than America. The Communists have ruined the morals of Russians, including Russian Muslims like the Tatars, Bashkirs, Chechens, Ingush, and other nationalities.