Sharia Law And Miss Indonesia 2009

So Indonesia has chosen its representative for next year’s Miss Universe contest.  The 2009 Miss Indonesia (Putri Indonesia) title goes to 18 year old Qori Sandioriva.  Well Indonesia has been sending beauty contestants to Miss Universe for years, so there shouldn’t be any controversy, right?

Wrong!  This year’s winner happens to represent Aceh province.  Aceh is unique in that it is the only province in Indonesia to implement partial Sharia law because of its special autonomy status. However, the 2006 autonomy law requires that Aceh’s laws must not violate existing national laws or the country’s Constitution. (This is unlike neighboring Malaysia, where 3 states have Sharia laws which run parallel to civil laws).

About a month ago, Aceh’s provincial legislature passed a bylaw that requires adulterers to be sentenced to death by stoning.  Aceh’s Governor has Irwandi Yusuf has refused to sign the new bylaw, as it goes against the country’s Constitution and its national laws which do not have death by stoning sentence. 

Qori Sandioriva entered the Miss Indonesia contest as Miss Aceh, representing the Province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD).  But her connection with Aceh was only her mother, who is Acehnese. Her father is a Sundanese, and she was born in Jakarta and she studies at the University of Indonesia which is near Jakarta.

Explaining how she became Miss Aceh, Qori Sandioriva said that she simply asked and was granted permission from the Aceh government to compete in the Miss Indonesia contest as their representative.  Aceh does not have a selection process for Miss Indonesia contest.

Any province would have rejoiced if its representative wins the Miss Indonesia title and goes on to represent Indonesia at the Miss Universe contest in next year.  But not Aceh, it seems. Now the Daya Ulema Association representing Muslim clerics in Aceh have condemned Qori Sandioriva for not wearing a headscarf during the contest, and not observing other norms of Sharia laws.

Teungku Faisal Ali, secretary general of Daya Ulema Association said: “What bothers us is why she represented Aceh, but did not reflect the values and culture of the Acehnese people who are well-known for their Islamic faith. Dayah and all ulema regret that a contestant representing Aceh did so without representing Aceh’s values.”

Then reacting to Qori Sandioriva’s claim that she received permission from the Aceh government to represent the province, Teungku Faisal Ali said: “If it is true the Aceh government gave her permission, then their commitment to enacting Sharia is questionable.”

But how exactly should anyone representing Aceh province be dressed at the Miss Indonesia contest?  Teungku Faisal Ali said that Acehnese contestants should only show their face, palms and feet.

And why didn’t Qori Sandioriva wear a headscarf for the Miss Indonesia contest?  Her answer?  “Hair is beauty, and I am proud of beauty.”  And beauty is indeed what she has.  She finished in the top five in both the gown competition and the interview segment.

The greatest challenge now facing the 2009 Miss Indonesia, Qori Sandioriva, is when she goes to compete next year in the Miss Universe contest.  There she will have to compete in the swimsuit segment and that will guarantee another round of outburst from the Muslim clerics in Aceh. Alluring to this possiblity, Teungku Faisal Ali said: “Promoting Aceh should not be done by showing genitalia, especially when she competes for the Miss Universe title, which surely will disgrace Aceh even more.”

Think about it.  Should Qori Sandioriva have represented Aceh Province in the Putri Indonesia contest?  Having received permission to do so, should she have worn a headscarf at the contest, showing only her face, palms and feet?  If she did, would she have won the Miss Indonesia 2009 title? If not, would Indonesia have got its best candidate for the Miss Universe contest next year. 

Previous posts

Sharia Law In Aceh – Caning & Death
Beauty Pageant – Saudi Style