More Photo Essays: Sharia Law in post-tsunami Aceh, Indonesia: aceh017

Sharia Police, or the morality police, check out rooms in a brothel in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Banda Aceh enforces a moderate form of Islamic Law.  In 2003, the provincial government of Aceh Province implemented a moderate form of sharia law on conduct and dress in their effort to reclaim Aceh as the Islamic capital of SE Asia.  Although Aceh is a matriarchal culture, women who break Sharia rules are often stigmatized, and often become objects of harassment, especially rape. Young adults who admit to having premarital sex are forced into marriage.

Sharia Police, or the morality police, check out rooms in a brothel in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. Banda Aceh enforces a moderate form of Islamic Law. In 2003, the provincial government of Aceh Province implemented a moderate form of sharia law on conduct and dress in their effort to reclaim Aceh as the Islamic capital of SE Asia. Although Aceh is a matriarchal culture, women who break Sharia rules are often stigmatized, and often become objects of harassment, especially rape. Young adults who admit to having premarital sex are forced into marriage.