TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Achmad Baidowi, the United Development Party (PPP) faction secretary at the House of Representatives (DPR), asked the government to review the planned ban for women wearing a niqab in state institutional areas. According to him, the ban potentially violates human rights.

“PPP demands the government study on the implementation of the niqab ban when women entering or in a state institution. This policy potentially violates human rights, albeit it could be justified from the security perspective,” said Baidowi in a written statement, Friday, November 1.

The PPP politician also urged the government to explain the planned ban in detail, whether it would be valid for state apparatus only or also for common people entering a state institution.

Previously reported, Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi said that his ministry was studying the ban on niqab in the government environment. However, on another occasion, he denied such a study.

“No, I have not spoken of it yet. That is not within the corridor of the Ministry of Religious Affairs,” said Fachrul in the office of Coordinating Ministry of Human Development and Culture, Jakarta, Thursday, October 31.

Baidowi went on to say that if the ban is taken into effect, it could be valid as the code of ethics for state apparatus in the internal Ministry of Religious Affairs. He opined the ministry could not control state apparatus in general as it was not the ministry’s authority.

“If the plan [on niqab ban] would be implemented in other state institutions, it should be under the authority of the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB),” Baidowi said.

FIKRI ARIGI