Indonesia: 14 women partially tonsured for inappropriately carrying hijabs

In an act of ethical policing, a college on the principle island of Indonesia courted a recent controversy over forcefully imposing an Islamic costume code on a gaggle of minor feminine college students. Evidently, the headmaster of a college revealed {that a} trainer took it upon herself to ‘punish’ 14 women who have been accused of carrying their Islamic hijab headscarves ‘incorrectly’.

Apparently, the incident came about on the state-owned junior highschool SMPN 1 in Lamongan, East Java, final Wednesday (23 August). As per reviews, the accused trainer partially shaved the heads of all 14 women for not following the costume code correctly. 

Harto, the headmaster recognized by a single title, acknowledged that the varsity had issued an apology and quickly suspended the trainer accountable for the incident.

Pertinently, a debate concerning the enforcement of costume codes, notably one forcing to put on the hijab, in Indonesia’s conservative areas has rocked the island nation for a very long time now. Despite the truth that the Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia banned necessary costume codes in faculties in 2021, activists have highlighted that each Muslim and non-Muslim women have lengthy been compelled to put on hijabs.

Notably, whereas talking to AFP, Harto acknowledged that there isn’t any official obligation for feminine college students to put on hijabs, however they have been inspired to put on interior caps beneath their headscarves for a neater look. 

Harto added that sadly, these college students didn’t adhere to this suggestion they usually left their fringes seen.

When the incident got here to mild, Human rights teams reacted strongly to this subject and demanded the dismissal of the accused trainer. An Indonesian researcher at Human Rights Watch named Andreas Harsono described the Lamongan incident as one of the vital intimidating instances ever in Indonesia. He emphasised that there’s a want for sanctions towards the trainer and the involvement of psychologists to help the victims.

After the troubling incident, the varsity held mediation with the mother and father of the affected college students and arrived at a mutual understanding. 

Additionally, the varsity has dedicated that it’ll present psychological help to the affected women to assist them deal with the trauma. 

Overall, there are six main religions in Indonesia, nonetheless, there have been widespread considerations about rising non secular intolerance within the Island nation. 

Multiple reviews from as early as 2021 have identified that college students have confronted disciplinary actions for ‘not adhering to dress code rules’. And these actions reportedly embody having their hijabs lower or receiving penalties. 

One main headscarf-related case erupted in 2021 when a Christian pupil in West Sumatra was compelled to put on a hijab. The officers described the case because the “tip of the iceberg”. 

All these incidences of ethical policing and forceful imposition of the Islamic costume code in faculties have sparked a bigger debate concerning non secular apparel in faculties.