Punks forced into 're-education' for 'threatening Islamic values'

Dozens of young punk rock concert goers had their heads shaved and body piercings confiscated after police in Indonesia said they were a threat to Islamic values.

Dozens of young punk rock concert goers had their heads shaved and body piercings confiscated after police in Indonesia said they were a threat to Islamic values.

They were also stripped of dog-collar necklaces and chains and then thrown in pools of water for “spiritual” cleansing, police chief Iskandar Hasan said.

After replacing their “disgusting” clothes, he handed each a toothbrush and barked “use it.”

Dozens were loaded into vans and taken to a police detention centre in the hills, 30 miles from the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, for “re-education”.

They will be held there for at least 10 days, after which they will be returned to their parents.

It was the latest effort by authorities to promote strict moral values in Aceh, the only province in the secular but predominantly Muslim nation of 240 million people to have imposed Islamic laws.

Adultery is punishable by stoning to death. Homosexuals have been thrown in jail or lashed in public with canes. Women are told that wearing headscarves is a must, and tight trousers are banned.

Punk rockers have complained for months about harassment, but Saturday’s roundup was by far the most dramatic.

Baton-wielding police broke up the concert, scattering young music lovers.

Twenty-year-old punk, Fauzan, was mortified.

“Why? Why my hair?!” he said, pointing to his cleanly shaven head. “We didn’t hurt anyone. This is how we’ve chosen to express ourselves. Why are they treating us like criminals?”

Hasan insisted he had done nothing wrong.

“We’re not torturing anyone,” he said. “We’re not violating human rights. We’re just trying to put them back on the right moral path.”

Aceh was given semi-autonomy as part of a peace deal with Indonesia’s central government after the province agreed to end a separatist struggle in 2005.

more courts articles

Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told
Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van

More in this section

Russia wears down Ukrainian defences with missile and drone attacks Russia wears down Ukrainian defences with missile and drone attacks
Paramedics among 16 people killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon Paramedics among 16 people killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
French legislators ponder law to ban discrimination based on a person’s hair French legislators ponder law to ban discrimination based on a person’s hair
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited