North Aceh has banned unmarried couples from riding on motorbikes to prevent ‘sinful acts’

FIRST women were told they would have to sit side-saddle, now they’ve been told they can’t ride on the back of a motorbike unless it’s with their husband.

A man and a woman ride a motorbike in Banda Aceh on May 4, 2015. North Aceh district in Indonesia's Aceh has passed legislation banning unmarried men and women from riding together on motorbikes, a lawmaker said on May 4, the latest new Islamic regulation in the conservative province. AFP PHOTO / CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN

FIRST women were told they would have to sit side-saddle, now they’ve been told they can’t ride on the back of a motorbike unless it’s with their husband.

A district in Indonesia’s Aceh province has passed a law banning unmarried men and women from riding on motorbikes together in a bid to prevent “sinful acts”.

The move, which will come into effect next year, is the latest in a string of new Islamic bylaws being passed by officials in North Aceh.

Aceh is the only province in Indonesia which is allowed to implement Sharia law.

The central government in Jakarta granted the region special autonomy in 2001 in a bid to sooth a separatist uprising.

The province already outlaws gay sex, gambling and drinking alcohol with those who break the laws subject to caning.

Politician Fauzan Hamzah said the introduction of the riding ban, which will affect more than 500,000, was part of the local authorities “efforts to implement sharia law fully”.

North Aceh has already banned live music performances and separated male and female students in schools.

“Unmarried people sitting closely together on a motorcycle is clearly against Islamic sharia as it could lead to sinful acts,” Mr Hamzah told AFP.

A man and a woman ride a motor bike in Banda Aceh on May 4, 2015.

It comes as another district in Aceh passed a bylaw two years ago prohibiting women from straddling male drivers on motorbikes, requiring that they ride side-saddle instead.

Mr Hamzah did not say what punishments would be put in place to unmarried couples caught together on a motorbike.

But did list several possible punishments that could be implemented for all the new Islamic laws, which ranged from a formal reprimand to fines and people being expelled from their villages.

“We will make efforts so that deeds which can lead to sin are eliminated gradually in North Aceh district,” he added.