‘Shariafrom below’ in ACEH (1930s–1960s): Islamic identity and the right to self‐determination with comparative reference to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)

Introduction Discussions of shari a and politics have often proposed that the former is manipulated by the latter. It has been argued that Muslim rulers have employed shari a as a symbol to acquire political legitimacy from their Muslim citizens and political influence with other Muslim countries (Schumann, 1999). In addition, it has been argued that the codification of shari a by Muslim regimes is intended in the interests of legal unification in order to produce political stability (Mawardi, 2003). All of this suggests that the implementation of shari a by a Muslim state is more of a political issue than a religious one. With regard to the state’s interests which commonly underlie the implementation of shari a, this sort of argument is generally acceptable. Yet how do we account for the current rising demand for the implementation of shari a among Muslim groups? Are they politically motivated as well? Bassam Tibi (2001:147,166) has argued that this demand is: