A city in Indonesia's Islamic law stronghold of Aceh will ban women passengers from straddling motorbikes, describing the position as "improper". The move comes after leaders from the country's only province ruled under strict sharia law drafted a series of new bills, including banning women from wearing tight trousers, and allowing the stoning of adulterers and the flogging of homosexuals. 

    Under the new law, women in Lhokseumawe city, on the northern tip of Sumatra island, will have to sit "side-saddle" with their legs dangling off to one side. 
     "Women sitting on motorbikes must not sit astride because it will provoke the male driver. It's also to protect women from an undesirable condition," Mayor Suaidi Yahya told AFP on Wednesday. "It's improper for women to sit astride. We implement Islamic law here." Women are allowed to straddle motorbikes if they are driving, as long as they are dressed "in a Muslim way", Yahya said. 

     The mayor plans to publicise the ban in coming weeks and will discuss sanctions with local Muslim clerics before issuing a formal regulation. 
     Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation, but most practice a moderate form of Islam. Aceh began implementing sharia law after it was granted special autonomy in 2001. Authorities now regularly cane people caught gambling or drinking alcohol.



Now this is a serious law offence! (Does it tend to be  an extreme?)