Hard-line Indonesian police round up punk rockers

Hard-line Indonesian police round up punk rockers
The Associated Press, Banda Aceh, The Jakarta Post

Police in Indonesia's most conservative Muslim province of Aceh have a new Public Enemy No. 1: punk rockers.

Police official Iskandar Hasan said Wednesday that 65 youths were rounded up during a weekend concert and brought to a detention center where their spiky mohawks - deemed insulting to Islamic traditions - were buzzed off.

They were stripped of body piercings, dog-collar necklaces and chains, then thrown in pools of water for "spiritual" cleansing. Their "disgusting" clothes were replaced and each was handed a toothbrush and told: "Use it!"

Aceh, on Indonesia's westernmost tip, banned alcohol and gambling after gaining semi autonomy from the secular central government five years ago. It's also compulsory for women to wear headscarves.

Hard-line Indonesian police round up punk rockers