So business has trumped Islamic decency, at least in regards to tourists. Probably a good move for the economy.
Indonesia Allows Bikini
IslamOnline.net & Newspapers
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...News/NWELayout"This bill should no longer be creating controversy and should be ready to be passed," Muhaimin said. (Google photo)
JAKARTA – After months of discussions, Indonesian lawmakers have agreed that bikinis are acceptable attire for beaches in the world's most populous Muslim country.
"Tourists will be able to wear bikinis in special tourist areas, such as in Bali, so Indonesia's tourism industry won't be hurt by this legislation," Democrat Party lawmaker Husein Abdul Azis told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday, October 17.
"We are listening to the protests of stakeholders and people at large," he added, referring to fears the tourism industry would suffer if bikinis were criminalized.
Bikinis were to be criminalized under a new a pornography bill, being debated by the parliament.
But politicians and tourism entrepreneurs have warned that the bill would undermine the country's tourism industry.
Indonesia has declared 2008 "Visit Indonesia Year" and hopes to attract seven million visitors, earning 6.7 billion dollars in foreign exchange revenues.
However, tourist arrival figures indicate the target is unlikely to be reached.
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, with Muslims making up some 86.1 percent of the 235 million population.
Changes
The agreement came after MPs introduced radical changes to the pornography bill.
"I can say there have been drastic changes in the bill," Balkan of the Golkar Party told the Jakarta Post.
Proposed in 1999, the bill defines porn as sexual material that includes photographs, cartoons, films, poems, vocalization, conversations and body gestures in the media, or in public shows, exhibits or performances.
It calls for criminalizing those who arouse sexual propensity, desires or longings or contravene community ethics, decency or morality.
The bill also imposes fines on women who refuse to cover "sensitive" body parts, such as hair, shoulders, midriffs and legs.
It also slaps a seven-year jail term on people caught kissing in public.
"The porn bill will treat recreational and leisure areas differently," Husein, the Democratic Party lawmaker.
The parliamentary committee debating the bill will inform the public about the changes in the coming few days.
"We must publicize the changes in the media," said MP Muhaimin Iskandar of the National Awakening Party (PKB).
"This bill should no longer be creating controversy and should be ready to be passed."
So business has trumped Islamic decency, at least in regards to tourists. Probably a good move for the economy.
Sad just to make their country famous from tourists.Dont they think that those little sins will come to haunt the President PM or Senate
They don't care. They're politicians.
Indonesia allows bikini since it got its independent from the Dutch....
btw... people can wear bikinis in Malaysia too...but there are laws prohibiting Muslims from wearing bikinis... but no enforcements since a Mufti was sacked for defending religious officers charging 3 Muslim beauty contestants for wearing bikinis in the 90s.
Putting money before islam
Were They prohibited when the dutch were there ?format_quote Originally Posted by north_malaysian
thats sad...really
they are going against islam...so do they really expect to be successful economically? or in any other way? wonder what theyll legalise next...
Did anyone read the highlighted parts of the article? I missed it.
Basically, it's slowly becoming the Islamic republic of Indonesia.It calls for criminalizing those who arouse sexual propensity, desires or longings or contravene community ethics, decency or morality.
The bill also imposes fines on women who refuse to cover "sensitive" body parts, such as hair, shoulders, midriffs and legs.
It also slaps a seven-year jail term on people caught kissing in public.
They're just going to continue to allow foreigners wear their bikinis, and most foreigners only go to visit Bali, which is a Hindu island anyway.
Of course, it's going to make the Balinese cover up - most rural Balinese still go topless.
Last edited by The Khan; 10-18-2008 at 05:22 PM.
Few years ago there were many articles in which journalists wrote that south east muslim countries dont choose islamists and go secular way. Now in year 2008 we see how much they were mistaken. The question remains if such reforms can really bring modernization, understood as building strong state where every family has warm water, electricity and acces good to highways.format_quote Originally Posted by The Khan
Last edited by Amadeus85; 10-18-2008 at 06:19 PM.
astaghfirullah!
Trust me, secular India has a worse Human development index. India is the world's largest democracy. Indonesia has the highest Muslim population in the world. It's bound to become an Islamic republic sooner or later.format_quote Originally Posted by Aaron85
Indonesia's HDI = 0.728
GDP per capita = $3,728
India's HDI = 0.619
GDP per capita = $941
Compare that to Saudi and Iran:
Saudi HDI = 0.812
GDP per capita = $15,724
Iran HDI = 0.759
GDP per capita = $5,042
I'd say Indonesia is doing pretty well
Plus, the transaction from a secular republic to an Islamic one doesn't imply lesser development. That's the image your media has portrayed to you.
Sis, they're not allowing the bikini...they're banning it for all Indonesians, and allowing non-Indonesians to wear it only in special beaches at the island of Bali, which is 93% Shaivite Hindu. In their culture, toplessness is permitted.format_quote Originally Posted by ^..sTr!vEr..^
Last edited by The Khan; 10-18-2008 at 06:48 PM.
I think it's the Dutch who introduced it to them...format_quote Originally Posted by Güven
Southeast asian women in the rural areas only wear "sarongs"...long..long... time ago.
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