Showing thighs ‘a porn crime’

Showing thighs ‘a porn crime’

Margareth S. Aritonang, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 03/29/2012 8:40 AM

A | A | A |

The newly established antipornography task force says it will crack down on women wearing skirts that fall above the knee as such clothing will be included in the group’s universal definition of pornography.

Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, the task force’s chairman, said Wednesday that the definition would be universally applied to all regions in the country, regardless of cultural background.

“We have yet to set a standard definition of pornography on which we will base our work. However, there must be a set of universal criteria to define something as pornographic, one of which will be when a woman wears a skirt above the knee,” Suryadharma told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with the House of Representatives’ Commission VIII overseeing religious and social affairs on Wednesday.

When asked whether the task force would give leniency to women living in non-Muslim provinces, such as Bali and Papua, Suryadharma said that the task force would ensure the standards were universally applied.

“I know that some parts of the country have unique cultures, such as Bali and Papua. Nevertheless, we think that we must set universal criteria to be implemented in all parts of the archipelago. Requiring women to wear skirts that fall below the knee is one such criterion,” he said.

The plan was swiftly condemned by top politicians and activists.

House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said Suryadharma had gone too far in defining pornography.

“This will obviously make female lawmakers furious. I don’t think that the task force should make a fuss about women’s skirts. I think the definition of pornography must be based on principles with regards to how people should behave,” he said.

Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said that the government ought to deal with more important problems than telling women what to wear.

“The way women wear their skirts, below or above the knees, will not impact others. It’s nothing compared to the fuel-price hike plan, which undoubtedly will impact a majority of the people,” Rieke said.

National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) deputy chairwoman Masruchah opposed Suryadharma’s definition of pornography.

“Defining pornography based on women’s skirts is only a way to subordinate women. I regret that such an idea comes from state officials,” Masruchah said. She also called for the task force to consider the country’s cultural diversity.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono set up the task force on March 13 to implement the 2008 Pornography Law. The task force was given a mandate to curb the distribution of pornography.

The President appointed Coordinating People’s Welfare Minister Agung Laksono to lead the task force. Other members include Communications and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring, Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin, and Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Linda Gumelar.

anderson silva|john carter|minka kelly|nags head nc|cher