Source: The Jakarta Post
A suggestion proposed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s minister to ban the niqab in government offices has triggered mixed responses among officials and politicians amid the country’s apparent fight against radicalism.
While some supported the plan to ban the niqab in government compounds, others disapproved of it and demanding that the government not intervene in the dress decisions of Muslim women.
The idea of the ban was first put on the table by Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi, who said Wednesday that his office was studying the plan and might recommend a regulation on the ban, CNNIndonesia.com reported, though he has since backtracked on his statement.
“There might be further measures, but we are not banning the niqab, but we are banning it from government offices for security reasons, especially after what happened to Pak Wiranto,” Fachrul said as reported by CNNIndonesia.com, referring to a recent attack against former coordinating political, legal and security affairs minister Wiranto.
Categories: Indonesia, Niqab, The Muslim Times, Women Rights