Wilayatul Hisbah Explained

Wilayatul Hisbah is the Islamic religious police force responsible for the enforcement of sharia law in the autonomous region of Aceh, Indonesia.[1] The origins of this force can be traced to 2001 when a special autonomy law was promulgated to allow for the state of Aceh to implement more elements of sharia law, which the Indonesian government see as a useful way of decreasing local fervor for Acehnese independence.[2] These officers have reportedly been patrolling the streets since 2002,[3] but the force was formally established in 2004,[4] It was established at both provincial level as well as the district and municipality levels. The units were formed in response to an increase in "unmarried couples, Muslim women without headscarves or those wearing tight clothes, and people drinking alcohol or gambling,” which authorities perceived to have become more common following contact with Western ideas after foreign aid was provided after the 2004 Indonesian tsunami.[5] It was described in a 2014 report as being a "voluntary" force.[6]

The force's integrity has been questioned occasionally. Its public image deteriorated heavily in 2010 after three officials were found to have raped a girl that was being detained by them in West Aceh Regency. In another instance, an officer was found to be engaging in sex with his girlfriend in a Banda Aceh bathroom.[7]

Organization Structure

The latest constituting document of Wilayatul Hisbah, Governor of Aceh Decree No. 139/2016, structured the force as follow:[8]

Command and Coordination

As apparatus of Aceh province, the commander of Wilayatul Hisbah reported to Governor of Aceh, but the institution consolidated and consulted to the Directorate General of Territorial Administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs.[9]

Each city or regency in Aceh province possessed their own Wilayatul Hisbah office, but they are subordinates to their respective city or regency local government. Provincial Wilayatul Hisbah possessed the power to held guidance and fostering to the Wilayatul Hisbah office in city or regency.

The Wilayatul Hisbah was separated and differed from another department in Aceh Province, Aceh Province Department of Islamic Sharia, which was tasked to educate, foster, conserve Islamic ways and way of life in Aceh, and performing research and assessments for producing Islamic law documents applicable in Aceh Province. While Aceh Department of Islamic Sharia tasked with such tasks, it does not have power for law enforcing. The Wilayatul Hisbah enforced the laws applicable within the province only.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sharia police: who are they?. The Jakarta Post. 2 April 2013.
  2. 2015. POLITICAL POWER STRUGGLES IN ACEH. Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict. 1–11. Conflict . Institute for Policy Analysis of .
  3. Kloos. David. 2015. Review of Shariʿa and Social Engineering: The Implementation of Islamic Law in Contemporary Aceh, Indonesia. Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde. 171. 2/3. 380–383. 10.1163/22134379-17102013 . 43818001 . 0006-2294. free.
  4. Ichwan. Moch Nur. 2011. OFFICIAL ULEMA AND THE POLITICS OF RE-ISLAMIZATION: THE MAJELIS PERMUSYAWARATAN ULAMA, SHARĪʿATIZATION AND CONTESTED AUTHORITY IN POST-NEW ORDER ACEH. Journal of Islamic Studies. 22. 2. 183–214. 10.1093/jis/etr026 . 26200830 . 0955-2340.
  5. Cox. Daniel G.. Ryan. Alex. 2015. Countering Insurgency and the Myth of "The Cause". Journal of Strategic Security. 8. 1–2. 43–62. 10.5038/1944-0472.8.1.1419 . 26465204 . 1944-0464. free.
  6. VIGNATO. SILVIA. 2014. Sensual subjects in an Islamic epistemological arena: Negotiating the borders of aurat in Aceh. La Ricerca Folklorica. 69. 67–81. 43897027 . 0391-9099.
  7. Fountain. Philip. 2016. Mennonite Disaster Relief and the Interfaith Encounter in Aceh, Indonesia. Asian Ethnology. 75. 1. 163–190. 10.18874/ae.75.1.07 . 43855330 . 1882-6865. free.
  8. Web site: 2016-12-29 . PERATURAN GUBERNUR ACEH NOMOR 139 TAHUN 2016 TENTANG KEDUDUKAN, SUSUNAN ORGANISASI, TUGAS, FUNGSI DAN TATA KERJA SATUAN POLISI PAMONG PRAJA DAN WILAYATUL HISBAH ACEH . 2022-10-19 . id.
  9. Web site: ACEH . SATPOL PP DAN WH . Polisi Wilayatul Hisbah dan Tantangan Penegakan Syariat Islam . 2022-10-19 . satpolppwh.acehprov.go.id . en.

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