Nurdin Hasan, Banda Aceh – The Bireuen Legislative Council in Aceh are preparing a draft bylaw on how Islamic men and women in the district should dress as Muslims.

Ridwan Muhammad, head of the Bireuen Legislative Council, told the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday that they were discussing the content of the Islamic bylaw, also known as a qanun, with the local ulema, ethics assembly and public figures, adding that the council would seek the public's opinion before passing the bylaw.

"The heart of the qanun on Islamic dressing is for all Bireuen residents, male and female adults to cover their aurat [entire body except the hands and face]," Ridwan explained. "The implementation [of the bylaw] is being studied and enhanced by involving several parties."

Ridwan said that the councilors decided to bring up the bylaw for discussion after they discovered several people in the Bireuen district were not dressing in the "Islamic" way, such as women wearing jeans and tight outfits and men wearing shorts outside their homes.

"So the purpose of coming up with this qanun is for the benefit of the Bireuen people to dress up according to the Islamic teachings in which all adult Muslims should cover their aurat," said Ridwan, a politician from the Aceh Party. "We hope that after the qanun is passed, it won't discredit women because we also stipulate the Islamic way to dress up for males."

The draft bylaw states that females should wear loose outfits and should not show their body shape, while men are told to wear outfits that cover their aurat, Ridwan explained.

"We don't want to be said as violating human rights when it is being implemented," he said. "That's why before passing it, we are involving many parties to discuss the qanun draft."

Ridwan said that this qanun would be the foundation for Shariah police to monitor dress codes.