Dozens of regions have implemented bylaws requiring women and girls—including some non-Muslims —to wear the jilbab in schools and government offices.
that made the jilbab compulsory for students and civil servants. Modern Political Imaging: jilbab mesum 19
The transition to the in 1998 flipped this narrative. As democratic space opened up, so did religious expression. What was once a symbol of resistance became a symbol of freedom. Today, the jilbab is the norm in many parts of the country, reflecting a broader "Islamic turn" in Indonesian public life. 2. The Rise of "Hijabers" and Modest Fashion Dozens of regions have implemented bylaws requiring women
As the ResearchGate study (2026) suggests, the jilbab as a religious symbol can often be used for transactional politics, with the female body becoming a, "site for disciplining" rather than merely a symbol of personal piety. 4. Workplace and Social Dynamics As democratic space opened up, so did religious expression
For every safety pin that held a syar’i jilbab in place, a pin pricked the conscience of modern Indonesia. The question remains unanswered: Can a nation built on gotong royong (mutual cooperation) tolerate a citizen who says, “My God comes before my country”?
The struggle for the jilbab has been ongoing since the 19th century. The earliest recorded advocacy for mandatory veiling in the archipelago came from the Padri movement in Minangkabau, West Sumatra, which sought to apply Sharia law more strictly, including requiring women to wear a jilbab and even a niqab . In Aceh and parts of Sulawesi, Islamic traditions also promoted modest, body-covering attire.