District bans motorbike rides for unwed couples

A district in Indonesia's Aceh has passed legislation banning unmarried men and women from riding together on motorbikes, a lawmaker said on Monday, the latest new Islamic regulation in the conservative province.

Members of parliament in North Aceh district last week approved the regulation, which will come into effect in a year, said lawmaker Fauzan Hamzah, adding that authorities were making "efforts to implement Shariah fully".

"Unmarried people sitting closely together on a motorcycle is clearly against Shariah as it could lead to sinful acts," Hamzah said.