Jobpie Sugiharto, Jakarta – National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Deputy Sandrayanti Moniaga revealed several reasonings that have risen following the controversial burka-ban implemented at the State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga in Yogyakarta.
"There are pros and cons regarding the ban. There is an argument that it is not religious observance but more of a cultural thing," said Sandrayati at the Komnas HAM headquarters on Friday, March 9.
She explained that the commission has yet received any complaints from victims of the burka-ban.
Previously, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Yudian Wahyudi said that female students are barred from wearing burkas in the campus. He even threatened to expel students that persist to wear burkas despite being handed seven official warnings.
Apart from the debate on the basis of wearing a burka, Sandrayanti explained that the commission is currently studying whether the ban can be considered as a human rights violation since not every ban can be seen as a human rights violation.
"Now the question is whether wearing a burka is part of a religious observance? If it isn't, then it is okay to ban its use," she argued.
However, Komnas HAM said that the most important aspect of this controversy is to confirm that the students are able to continue their study at the UIN Sunan Kalijaga.