Indonesia's Islamic Clerics Call For Chemical Hair-Straightening Ban

Islamic clerics in Indonesia are seeking a fatwa to ban chemical hair straightening, or rebonding, Reuters reports:

The deputy secretary of the Fatwa Commission, Aminudin Yakub, said on Wednesday that the East Java Forum Musyawarah Pondok Pesantren Putri had requested a formal edict declaring rebonding a breach of Islamic law "except for women who are married and have the permission of their husband."

The same group wants to ban dreadlocks and other "funky" hairstyles. Yakub said that the issue is not high on the Fatwa Commission's priority list and that it might be discussed in the future. The commission's decisions aren't legally binding. In the past it has issued a fatwa on practicing yoga.

Comments

[infidel2]

03:48 PM on 01/22/2010

I wonder if the imams also decide which brand of toilet paper are acceptable? How far does the interference in people's lives go? As far as the clerics decide, depending on the situation?......In other words absolute control?

[Danchi]

08:19 AM on 01/22/2010

Rebounding is the same process as "relaxing" the hair except for the straightening part. There is a correct way to rebond/relax one's hair.

1.) First start with healthy hair. If the hair is damaged then you may need to wait a couple of months. Give the hair intense protein conditioning weekly to build strength.
2.) After applying the chemical straightener, rinse thoroughly than apply neutralizing shampoo. This is a vital step because the neutralizer halts the chemical process. DO NOT APPLY HEAT TO HAIR. It is very fragile at this stage.
3.) After neutralizer is rinsed from hair apply a good quality protein conditioner. Follow directions on bottle. I'm not sure if they are available in Asian countries because this is generally something not used in their culture.
4.) Rinse out conditioner and apply a high quality silk conditioner. Follow directions.
5.) Rinse conditioner than blow dry, air dry or sit under dryer. Style.
6.) Hair maintenance is a must. This means the use of protein & moisture conditioners at every wash and possibly daily application of a light moisturizing cream.

Or as previously stated-go to a Black Hair salon and have this done.

[Mark Twaine]

11:47 PM on 01/21/2010

The cleric's name is DeMint who recently visited Indonesia in search of genealogy records.

[MarisaFaye]

07:22 PM on 01/21/2010

Are these men so afraid of women?

[vgirl1]

07:05 PM on 01/21/2010

While I too disapprove of this foolish notions to control the lives of women, I find in general that the notion of Islamic leaders feeling they have a right to control the lives of women, directly related to the practices of Religion, Religious leaders and political parties in this country who try to control a woman's body and the reporoductive rights and freedoms that go along with that.

The attempts to control a woman's right to choose by Christian religions and some political parties, their representativeand their supporters are no less egregious than those of Islamic religious leaders who try to control the lives of Islamic women.

[peowlemeow]

04:28 PM on 01/21/2010

Religion is theft.

[thehoopoe]

04:17 PM on 01/21/2010

there must be nothing else going there.

[seppoyank]

03:52 PM on 01/21/2010

As it says in the article, "The commission's decisions aren't legally binding."

I lived with an Indonesian woman while we were both getting our Master's degrees. Her country's practice of Islam is very different from what we see in parts of the Middle East. Crazy extremists aren't in control. She only wore a head scarf for prayer.

[invirginia]

03:49 PM on 01/21/2010

Imam

Im am

Im a m

I'm a mysognist.

[Pippen]

03:22 PM on 01/21/2010

I'd like to straightend some Imam hair with a chainsaw and some asphault. I would look FABULOUS.

[boscobear]

03:15 PM on 01/21/2010

They'll fatwa anything to control women. The women need to put a big fatwa hurt on these fools!

[aspelling]

02:47 PM on 01/21/2010

These conservative priests has real issue with control.
They are scam.
Everywhere.
Like ours want to control women reproduction right and stick their noses you-know-where

[Conk]

02:33 PM on 01/21/2010

21st century and religious zealots are still dictating affairs? Rubbish, nonsense, crystal pure stupidity!

[notsogr8]

02:15 PM on 01/21/2010

I call for a ban on Islamic clerics.

[jasev01]

01:58 PM on 01/21/2010

Why?