Jakarta – A draft law proposed by lawmakers on the tsunami-ravaged Indonesian province of Aceh will impose Shariah, or Islamic law, on all non-Muslims, the military and police, a local law enforcement official said Thursday.

Sharia took effect in Aceh, a predominantly Muslim region on the northernmost tip of Sumatra island, last year. It banned drinking, gambling, adultery and other behavior deemed immoral under Islam. Until now, it has only applied to Muslims.

The latest bill, submitted to the national parliament early this year for debate, is expected to be adopted by the 550-seat house by the summer after facing initial resistance.

"Based on the equality in law, Acehnese people have formally proposed ... to apply the Islamic Shariah Law to all those residing in Aceh, including military, police and non-Muslims," said Alyasa Abubakar who heads a local government office which enforces the Shariah on Aceh.

"We leave it to the parliament whether to accept or reject the Acehnese people's proposal," Abubakar said. "I personally feel that it is not fair to apply the Islamic Sharia only to Muslims."

Abdullah Saleh, deputy chairman of the parliamentary commission handling the draft, said it will be applied to all people equally "while on other hand it protects the non-Muslims freedom to perform their religious duties."

With 220 million inhabitants, Indonesia is home to more Muslims than any other nation, but is a secular state where people follow a moderate form of the faith.

The draft will almost certainly harm delicate relations with other faiths, in a country where Christian-Muslim violence has claimed the lives of thousands in recent years. Although around 97 percent of the population is Muslim, Aceh is also home to Hindus, Buddists and Christians.

Fransiskus Widanto, a 32-year-old Catholic working with a nongovernment organization in Aceh's capital Banda Aceh, fiercely opposed the idea of being forced to abide by Islamic law. "It should not be forcefully imposed, especially on non-Muslims," he said. "I think it would be better to leave if such a law is introduced."

Aceh was the single worst-hit Asian coastline in the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami which claimed the lives of some 130,000.