SFGate: Indonesia proposes kissing ban; part of public morality crackdown

[Atlant]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/03/09/international1039EST0543.DTL

Indonesia proposes kissing ban as
part of public morality crackdown

CHRIS BRUMMITT, Associated Press Writer

Kissing in public and erotic dancing could become a crime punishable
by five years in jail as part of a proposed clampdown on morality in
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, according to
media reports on Tuesday.

In a related development, authorities on the country's Batam island
said they planned to raid houses looking for cohabiting couples and
make them get married, the reports said.

The moves reflect the growing influence of religion in the secular
country and will likely please Muslim clerics, who have argued that
Islamic values should be better reflected in the nation's laws.

A proposed bill before parliament would ban kissing on the lips and
making love in public places. Erotic dancing, public exposure of
private body parts and "performing in, organizing or watching sex
shows" would also become crimes, said Aisyah Hamid Baidlawi, who
heads a house committee on pornography.

<more>

[Atlant]

1. Sound like any country we're familiar with?

> The moves reflect the growing influence of religion in the secular
> country and will likely please ... clerics, who have argued that
> {religious} values should be better reflected in the nation's laws.

Sound like any country we're familiar with? :(

Atlant

[walkon]

2. Yes

While the focus here at DU has been on the Presidential election I believe it is as important to vote dems in for Congress. If for no other reason than they are not controlled by the religious right. As Howard Stern has said, "they are winning", and we must become more aware of their influence nationally and locally so as to work to turn them back.