Islamic Leaders Support Journalists' Sharia Caucus

Banda Aceh - Aceh Islamic clerics and regional administration support the establishment of a caucus aimed to fully implement the Sharia Law in the province. The Caucus of the Sharia defenders has been established by a group of local journalists . "We give our support," Faisal Ali, the secretary general of Association of Aceh Islamic Scholars, said here on Monday. Faisal said journalists could play an important role to provide an accurate information about the progress made in the implementation of the Sharia law in Aceh. The Caucus could counter unfair information launched by foreign mass media abroad about implementation of the Sharia law in the predominantly Muslim region, he said. "Information abroad is misleading, badly portraying implementation of the Islamic teaching in Aceh," he said, adding the reports discourage visitors to Aceh. There nothing to fear for anyone visiting Aceh with its Sharia Law, as "Islam is a merciful religion," he said. The provincial administration of Aceh also has expressed support saying it appreciated the initiative taken by local journalists to form the Sharia Caucus. "We hope the Caucus would be expanded into a collective movement together with the government to provide an accurate information about Sharia Law," Usamah El-Madny, the spokesman of the Aceh provincial administration. The Caucus is expected to reduce or counter efforts discrediting implementation of the Sharia Law in Aceh, Usmaha said. "Apart from being in line with the aspirations of the people, implementation of Sharia Law in Ache is in compliance of the country's Constitution," he said. (*)