Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Woman`s Role Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Linda Amalia Sari said she would refer a proposal to declare certain activities "haram" (not permitted under Islam) for women to the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI).

She was referring to a decision of the Consultative Forum of East Java Islamic Girls` Boarding Schools to consider as haram the rebonding of hair, the making of pre-marriage photos and the profession of motorcycle taxi (ojek) driving for women.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Civil Community Alliance (Ansidam) here on Tuesday, the minister said she believed the MUI and the religious affairs ministry would be able to deal with the matter well.

She said there were still a lot of other women`s problems that still had to be prioritized.
She said rebonding, pre-wedding photo sessions and women becoming motorbike taxi drivers were not issues that need to be given a priority by all parties.

"There are still a lot of other women`s problems that have to be given priority by all parties and need solutions such as equality, human traffickings mostly affecting women and children, violence against women and others," she said.

The Consultative Forum of the All East Java Girls` Islamic Boarding Schools recently in a meeting recently issued a decision stating that rebonding, pre-wedding photo sessions and female motorbike taxi driving were against Islamic law.

The MUI meanwhile said that the case of rebonding was very contextual but it was basically permissible.

"If the intention and the impact are negative it will be against the law but if it is positive it is permissible and even recommended," deputy secretary of MUI`s Commission on Edicts, Asrorun Ni`am Sholeh said.

He said rebonding as part of a make-up was permissible so long as it would not be physically, psychologically and socially endangering.(*)