Indonesia's home affairs minister Mardiyanto says the government will ask the Supreme Court to review a new Islamic law which condemns adulterers to death by stoning in the province of Aceh.
Mardiyanto told reporters on Wednesday that he was coordinating with the justice minister Andi Mattalatta, who is scrutinising contentious articles in the bylaw endorsed by the Aceh legislative council on Monday.
"The government and the public can voice their objections to the qanun [Sharia bylaw]; they can demand the Supreme Court review the bylaw if they consider it wrong or improper. The government will no doubt do that," Mardiyanto said.
"Aceh is part of Indonesia, so it must respect the Constitution and the laws of the country. And remember, Aceh should not be issuing bylaws that are detrimental to its people."
Indonesian rights activists have condemned the new law as "cruel and degrading".
The law, which also allows punishments of up to 400 lashes for child rape, 100 lashes for homosexual acts and 60 lashes for gambling, was passed unanimously on Monday by lawmakers in the region at the northern tip of Sumatra island.
Mardiyanto said the law could deter trade and investment in the region.
"Investors will refuse to come, people will be afraid to visit Aceh… They have to take those things into account."
The bylaw, which is applicable to Muslims and non-Muslims, punishes all parties proved to have "facilitated" such acts including hotels and entertainment venues.
In Banda Aceh, deputy governor Muhammad Nazar said the provincial administration and legislative council were likely to review the new regulation.
The controversial legal change was passed in Aceh just weeks before a new, more moderate provincial assembly, dominated by the Aceh Party of former separatist fighters of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), is due to take power.