Discordances à l’aube de l’islamisation du droit à Aceh (décembre 2002)

Abstract

Dissonances at the Dawn of Islamization of Law in Aceh (December 2002). A series of interviews done in December 2002 in Aceh offers an interesting perspective of the Islamization of law at this early stage of the new legislation, when the first by-laws (qanun) were just passed by the local Parliament, awaiting their implementation. The interviews reveal a rift among Acehnese, with on one side, conservative ulama, revivalist activists (dakwah faculty), and politicians from ‘ secular’ or moderate Islamic parties pushing for sharia implementation, and on the other, sceptics who include traditionalist non-politicized ulama, modernist intellectuals and anti-revivalist politicians. The idea of sharia as an “ unwanted gift” given by Jakarta seems to be confirmed, but also the willingness to use sharia as a tool for “ social engineering” as well as increased revivalist influences as observed by Michael Feener ten years later.