Indonesian Cops arrest, shave punks at concert

[Armand Tanzarian]

Of course, harass doesn't begin to convey what the punks went through when they were arrested at a concert in the semi-autonomous region of Aceh, the only province in Indonesia to impose extreme Syariah law.

Police in Indonesia’s most conservative province raided a punk-rock concert and detained 65 fans, buzzing off their spiky mohawks and stripping away body piercings because of the perceived threat to Islamic values.

Dog-collar necklaces and chains also were taken from the youths before they were thrown in pools of water for “spiritual” cleansing, local police chief Iskandar Hasan said Wednesday.

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

www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/hard-line-indonesian-province-detains-punk-rockers-shaves-mohawks/2011/12/14/gIQAJ3qPtO_story.html
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/14/indonesian-punks-detained-shaved-police

www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2011/dec/14/police-arrest-punks-indonesia?intcmp=239#/?picture=383286323&index=1 (Pictures here)

Prior to the 2004 tsunami Aceh was best known for its separatist movement wanting to form its own theocracy away from Indonesia; the devestation following said tsunami was what led to Aceh and the Indonesian Republic signing a truce, Aceh remains under strict Islamic law as a result, worse than even the rest of the nation (which, if you recall correctly, sentenced a rock star to jail for his sex tape leaked). This is by far the worst and most publicized case of harassment by police.

[brendanrizzo]

It never ends, does it? The more I read about these events in other countries, the more I start to believe that the secularization of the Western world was a complete and total fluke.

[tgrwulf]

Apparently from what I've read in some of the comments on the first link, the police in that area of Indonesia are very corrupt and belive they have power over everybody.

Still, this is damn disgraceful, and I'm kind of pissed people can get away with this still.

[Armand Tanzarian]

Dec 15, 2011 10:33:32 GMT -5 tgrwulf said:

Apparently from what I've read in some of the comments on the first link, the police in that area of Indonesia are very corrupt and belive they have power over everybody.

Still, this is damn disgraceful, and I'm kind of pissed people can get away with this still.

They are, especially considering how fluid and hard to enforce many religion-based laws can be if brought before an actual court of law.

The cynical part of me is saying that this raid, and probably any high profile harassment of weird subcultures or homosexuals, is staged for the politicians. Politician pays cops to carry out raid, politician then goes on TV to derail deviant and unIslamic behavior, politician gets elected by reactionary and conservative populace, politician rewards policemen with promotions and recommendations. Rinse, repeat.

[Vene]

Dec 15, 2011 9:34:51 GMT -5 brendanrizzo said:

It never ends, does it? The more I read about these events in other countries, the more I start to believe that the secularization of the Western world was a complete and total fluke.

Not everything has to be about you.

[ohjohnno]

I know brendan can be very angry sometimes, but that's no excuse to be an asshole about every post he makes.

And as for this... aren't they violating any laws on invasion of privacy?

[ironbite]

Hell no. Religion trumps every single man made law ever!

Ironbite-cause...GAWD SAID SO!

[gyeonghwa]

I hope the rest of Indonesia looks at Aceh to remind themselves of what a fucked up place it is.

[Vene]

Dec 15, 2011 16:02:33 GMT -5 ohjohnno said:

I know brendan can be very angry sometimes, but that's no excuse to be an asshole about every post he makes.

And he doesn't need to turn every goddamn thread into this hate/hard-n for the US.

And as for this... aren't they violating any laws on invasion of privacy?

It's Indonesia, are you sure they even have laws against it?

[Armand Tanzarian]

Dec 15, 2011 16:02:33 GMT -5 ohjohnno said:

And as for this... aren't they violating any laws on invasion of privacy?

I just mentioned Indonesia (as a country) is jailing people for their leaked sex tapes. What's that about privacy?

[ohjohnno]

...Yeah, never mind. Or should I say "Nevermind"?

Vene: He didn't mention the US. He talked about "the secularisation of the western world". If you dislike him that much, why not just put him on your ignore list (assuming this board has one)?

[Admiral Lithp]

If you really believe what you just said, then I would like to introduce you to my new line of "not a torture device" jewlery, the Thumb Screw.






























My implication is that you're falling for ridiculous semantics, if I wore that punchline a bit thin.

[ohjohnno]

I am now confused.

[Vene]

Dec 16, 2011 5:52:44 GMT -5 ohjohnno said:

Vene: He didn't mention the US. He talked about "the secularisation of the western world". If you dislike him that much, why not just put him on your ignore list (assuming this board has one)?

You're right! Whenever somebody does something I don't like I should just ignore the fucker and hope s/he stops. That totally works. No wait, I've got a better idea! I'll call people who are fucking stupid "fucking stupid."