Dec 16, 2011
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Indonesia's powerful religious affairs minister has declared that mini-skirts are pornographic and would be banned under the country’s tough new anti-porn laws.
Minister Suryadharma Ali has been appointed to run Indonesia’s new anti-porn task force, announced by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono earlier this month.
He told reporters in Jakarta yesterday that before deciding what they must ban as pornography, the task force would consult widely to come up with “a set of universal criteria”, adding that “one [criterion] will be when someone wears a skirt above the knee,” according to the Jakarta Post.
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Once a standard of pornography was established, the task force would apply it nationwide across all ethnicities, the newspaper reported.
Entrenched corruption is tearing apart the ruling Democratic Party and imprisoning its members of parliament, and thousands are demonstrating on the streets about fuel price rises and the cost of living, but the Indonesian government’s response has been to crack down hard on short skirts.
Earlier this month, the country’s parliamentary speaker Marzuki Alie announced he would draft rules banning female politicians and staff members from wearing mini skirts, saying, “there have been a lot of rape cases and other immoral acts recently and this is because women aren't wearing appropriate clothes”.
“You know what men are like. Provocative clothing will make them do things."
The president announced the anti-pornography task force earlier this month to try to remove it entirely from Indonesia. Judging by a recent Google survey, Indonesians consume porn at least as enthusiastically as other people, despite the large majority of Muslims here.
Mr Yudhoyono put Mr Suryadharma, the religious affairs minister, in charge of the task force’s day to day operation.
The minister is no stranger to controversy. In January he said the Shiite version of Islam, a minority interpretation in Indonesia, was heretical because it deviated from mainstream muslim teaching.
Declaring a sect heretical in Indonesia can be dangerous. Last year a machete-wielding mob attacked and killed three members of the “heretical” Ahmadiyah sect.
Mr Suryadharma’s department is also controversial. In February, Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission questioned the whereabouts of millions of dollars in interest earned on the deposits that pilgrims paid to the department to join the waiting list for a trip to Mecca.
These deposits, added to donations made to the poor, make the religious affairs department the wealthiest in the Indonesian government.


Sydney Morning Herald. Life & Style. Fashion
 

calitobali

Member
Jul 10, 2008
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Don't get me wrong, I'm not unappreciative of you posting this, but "blah blah blah, this is haram, this is considered pornography, blah blah blah" we have all heard of this before. It's always just extremely religious folk getting all upset and doesn't usually go anywhere. Main point is it won't affect Bali anyways.
 
Dec 16, 2011
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Canggu Visitor
I'm sure you're correct calitobali. Certainly hope so. I'll be interested to learn a little more about how much control the religeous have in Bali - good and bad.
Gilbert, that skirt probably qualifies for above the knee - and above nearly everything else!
 

Rangi

Active Member
May 23, 2011
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Gilbert, that skirt probably qualifies for above the knee - and above nearly everything else!

And isnt it so nice ?? I think they look so good . Bali being so hot is perfect climate for it. Next they will be saying they are going to ban Bikinis . Now that would be a terrrible thing too !
 

calitobali

Member
Jul 10, 2008
478
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And isnt it so nice ?? I think they look so good . Bali being so hot is perfect climate for it. Next they will be saying they are going to ban Bikinis . Now that would be a terrrible thing too !

That was exactly my point. During the attempted bikini ban a few years ago Bali refused and it just sort of sizzled out and died. The powers that be in Bali would never let these types of nonsensical Islamic based rulings fly on their island.
 

sugarbear

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Mar 4, 2011
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It's interesting that at some hotels in Nusa Dua . . .

That was exactly my point. During the attempted bikini ban a few years ago Bali refused and it just sort of sizzled out and died. The powers that be in Bali would never let these types of nonsensical Islamic based rulings fly on their island.

A few of the "tourists" lie out on the beach topless, not that I am complaining! I have a VERY open mind, but, it does show a lack of respect for the morals of our host country. I worry very much for these young ladies, they might get a terrible sunburn, so I try to keep a close eye on them, the least I can do!
 

Barekarma

Member
Jan 8, 2012
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Denpasar
I may be wrong, but is not this same Minster from the political party that ranted on about porn, yet the leader of this same Party was watching porn on his Government supplied I-pad during a Parlimentary session the leader was supposed to be listening to and participating in? I don't recall any legal case being raised for such a blantant, well publised and evidenced breach of thier important anti-porn law.

However, what is worrying is that this Minster appears to pushing Indonesia into the inter Muslim sect war that has plagued the whole of the Middle East. I hoped Indonesia would be a example to other predominately Muslim countries. Maybe not...
Barekarma
 

no.idea

Member
Feb 22, 2011
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Sanur
Do not worry if the ban is implemented.
In the area I live there are a number of young maidens who are prepared to remove all their clothing for couple of hundred thousand rupiah.
 

hermit

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Aug 19, 2010
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Bona gianyar
@Sugarbear:Bali is part of Indonesia with different morals.In my village i regularly encounter topless ladies.The tourists certainly do not show disrespect for the morals of the balinese.
 
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gilbert de jong

Active Member
Jan 20, 2009
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Panji, Singaraja.
yeah...but with all respect probably those topless-ladies hermit sees in his village are of the same age as my mom...and personally I look away (hurts my eyes) ;)

@BKT..makes it hard to tun away from me too if they wear the skirts like that ;D hahaha
 

hanzrobby

Member
Mar 15, 2011
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hahaha not sure how they will police it... the old bend over and if we see your knickers it's too short.....lol