Seeking justice through qanun jinayat: The narratives of female victims of sexual violence in aceh, indonesia

Abstract

This article examines the experience of Acehnese female victims of sexual violence seeking justice through Qanun Jinayat (Islamic criminal bylaw) in Aceh, Indonesia. The empirical data in this study were collected through in-depth interviews with the victims and families related to the cases of sexual violence. By employing the narrative agency, this article argues that telling the experience of seeking justice is a way female victims of sexual violence express their resistance to the implementation of Qanun Jinayat in Aceh. Regarding this, we will show that Aceh's Qanun Jinayat, which was originally implemented to eradicate sexual violence, turns out to have limitations in realizing the desired goals. This finding ultimately confirms that the concept of legal pluralism adopted in Aceh, Indonesia, has liminality in facilitating justice for women and other marginalized communities.