Banda Aceh – Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal has defended her recent decision to impose a partial curfew for local women, saying that the policy would directly benefit female employees in Aceh's capital city.

On June 4, Illiza issued a formal instruction ordering local venues, including restaurants, sport centers, Internet cafes and tourist attractions, to not serve women after 11 p.m. unless accompanied by their husbands or other male family members. The instruction also bans women from working in such venues after 11 p.m.

"We have studied the matter thoroughly and this is in line with the labor laws," Illiza said, as quoted by the Associated Press on Tuesday. "Our aim is to protect women employees, especially those working at entertainment spots."

Aceh is the country's only province that implements Islamic law. The central government granted the province the right to implement its version of sharia in 2006 as part of a peace deal to end a long-standing separatist war.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/06/10/islands-focus-mayor-defends-curfew-policy-women.html