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Residents of Aceh province, the only region in Indonesia to impose Islamic law. Photo: AFP

Village in conservative region of Muslim-majority Indonesia yanks Wi-fi over porn-surfing pupils

  • Officials defended the new edict in the village of 900 people by saying the service was damaging local children’s morals
  • Aceh province has drawn fire for whipping people found guilty of homosexuality, gambling and drinking alcohol
Indonesia

A village in a conservative region of Indonesia is pulling the plug on wireless internet after children were caught accessing porn sites instead of going to Koran study class, officials said Monday.

Aceh province – the only region in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country that imposes Islamic law – has drawn fire in the past for publicly whipping people found guilty of a range of offences including homosexuality, gambling and drinking alcohol.

Residents of Aceh can be flogged for a range of offences. Photo: AFP

Curee Baroh village has ordered half a dozen local cafes to shut their cheap Wi-fi service immediately.

It is located in the district of Bireun, which made headlines this year when it banned men and women from dining together unless they were married or related.

Officials defended the new edict by saying the service, which cost the equivalent of 21 US cents for five hours’ use, was damaging local children’s morals.

“In the past, kids would recite the Koran after evening prayers but since Wi-fi has become available, they’re hanging out in these shops instead,” said village head Helmiadi Mukhtaruddin.

“They’re accessing pornographic images and other sites, which is very damaging to their morals.”

Amorous couples and sex workers whipped publicly in Indonesia’s Aceh

The village of 900 people has not yet decided on a punishment for cafe owners who refuse to comply with the order, which was announced on Friday.

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