MUI Says “No Such Thing” In Islam
What can one say about the recent comment by Ramli Mansur, the West Aceh district head who is also the leader of the Aceh Party, that women who don’t comply with Shariah law in the manner of dressing are “asking to get raped”? Ramli Mansur is the one who sponsored a controversial Islamic bylaw in Aceh earlier this year that now prohibits Muslim women from wearing tight pants. But the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) has now come out to challenge this statement by Ramli Mansur. Chairman Amidhan of MUI says there is “no such thing” in Islam.
About Ramli Mansur’s Statement
In a recent interview, Ramli Mansur said: “It’s also stated in the Koran that if a woman imitates a man [by wearing pants], then she will spend 500 years in solitude before she ever gets to heaven. It’s my obligation as a leader to help the people so they won’t suffer in the afterlife.”
But then Ramli Mansur went on to say: “Besides, when women don’t dress according to Shariah law, they’re asking to get raped. It’s a fact that men go wild when they see a woman’s breasts and thighs. It arouses them.”
Ramli Mansur did not state explicitly where in the Koran this is stated.
MUI Reacts
The Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) has now step into this controversy. Chairman Amidhan of MUI rejected Ramli Mansur’s assertion that women who fail to wear Shariah compliant clothing are “asking to be raped”, adding that there is “no such thing” in Islam. Chairman Amidhan said: “A scantily-clad women might trigger certain thoughts in a young man’s head but it doesn’t mean that she’s asking to get raped.”
Reactions On Facebook
On Facebook, several comments critical of Ramli Mansur’s statement were posted. Yoshua Budin wrote: “A man who says such things has perverted fantasies in his mind.” Selena Tiedoll, also on Facebook wrote: “Yes, I agree women should dress properly, but asking to be raped? Women get raped because it’s their fault? You must tell men to control their lust, too! Even if all women wear burqa, but the man is very horny, rape will still occur anyway….”
Reaction From The National Commission On Violence Against Women
Ninik Rahayu, deputy chairwoman of the National Commission on Violence Against Women said: “Even if a woman wears a ragged sack as clothing, men with perverted thoughts will still want to rape her.” Then Ninik Rahayu added: “Why does the state, or in this case regional government, have to regulate how a woman has to dress herself?”
Think About It
Why did Ramli Mansur make such a statement that MUI says has no backing in the Koran? Did he not realize that such a comment would be controversial? Is Yoshua Budin right in saying that in making such a statement, Ramli Mansur has “perverted fantasies in his mind”? And to quote Ninik Rahayu, why indeed does Aceh “have to regulate how a woman has to dress herself?”
Previous posts
No More Tight Pants For Muslim Women In West Aceh, Indonesia
Aceh – Sharia Law On Women Wearing Trousers To Be Implemented
Aceh & Sharia Law
This is really scary to think that one of our world leaders actually thinks this about women. He is saying it is out fault if we fail to dress up and get molested by some sick guy and it is not his fault at all because we are tempting him. I am so glad I do not live back in the motherland and rather in the US because I could not stand to be associated with a country that disrespects their women so poorly. They need to wake up and join the 21 century.