Following a Higher Law

The West Java Regency of Cianjur is known throughout Indonesia for its fragrant, slightly sticky rice. But something else is growing in these fertile highlands, and the rest of the country is watching with great interest. Cianjur is one of seven rural areas that, at the request of grass-roots religious groups, is experimenting with Islamic law, or Sharia. But this is no push to stone adulterers or cut off the hands of thieves, as in Nigeria or Afghanistan. "It's different than what people think about Sharia," says Wasidi Swastomo, the regent of Cianjur. "The upholding of Sharia here is a morality campaign asking people to be good Muslims."

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, is in the midst of a growing Islamic fundamentalist movement, led by a small but vocal band of radical clerics. These mullahs, some of whom allegedly have links to terrorist groups, have called for an Islamic state with the full adoption of Sharia, including severe punishments for offenders. But those actually instituting religious law in isolated towns and villages in Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi aren't new recruits to the radicals' cause. Rather, they see the faith-based initiative as a way to confront three ... // 74% Remaining