Contesting Polygamy in Aceh: Legal Pluralism and the Politics of Islamic Family Law
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31958/juris.v25i1.16933Keywords:
Polygamy, Family Law Qanun, Legal Pluralism, AcehAbstract
The high rate of unregistered marriages and polygamy without official court permission in Aceh puts women and children in a particularly vulnerable legal position. Although the Aceh Government has made efforts to design the Family Law Qanun as an instrument of sharia-based local protection, the formulation of this regulation has been put on hold due to tensions between the aspirations of regional political autonomy and the dominance of national legal centralism. This study aims to analyse the dynamics of legal politics in the preparation of the draft Qanun of Family Law in Aceh with a legal pluralism approach. This study uses the social study of law and is analyzed with the approach of political configuration and Griffith's theory of legal pluralism. The results show that the deadlock in the ratification process of these regulations triggers strong legal pluralism at the grassroots level, so that the practice of illegal polygamy continues to spread and will perpetuate vulnerability for women and children. The contribution of this research expands the theory of legal pluralism through the concept of competitive legal pluralism, which arises from the failure of the state to codify local Islamic law.
References
Alfitri, Imanullah, R., & Rachman, A. (2024). Unregistered Polygamy Validation : Isbat Nikah, Polygamy Permit, and Due Process of Law in Indonesian Religious Courts. Ulumuna, 28(1), 313 – 344. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v28i1.639
Andika, S., Trisdiani, C., Hasan, K., & Maulida, D. (2020). Pro-Kontra Wacana Pelegalan Poligami di Tanah Rencong. Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi, 6(2), 151–159.
Annisa, Afrizal, T. Y., & Saifullah, T. (2021). Kajian Yuridis terhadap Perkawinan Poligami yang tidak Tercatat (Studi Penelitian di Desa Kota Panton Labu Kecamatan Tanah Jambo Aye Kabupaten Aceh Utara. Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa FH, IV(2), 220.
Asror, M. (2012). Panorama Poligami dan Resistensi Perempuan di Langsa Aceh. Ulumuna: Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 16(1), 163–188. https://doi.org/10.20414/ujis.v16i1.194
Atmaja, F. K. (2019). Poligami Ilegal di Banda Aceh-Indonesia dan Lahore-Pakistan Perspektif Hukum Islam dan Hukum Positif. UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.
Auliani, F., Layyina, U., Arrisha, M., & Nisa, H. (2022). Poligami dan Ketahanan Keluarga Masyarakat Aceh. Musãwa Jurnal Studi Gender Dan Islam, 20(1), 59–68. https://doi.org/10.14421/musawa.2021.201.59-68
Benda-beckmann, K. Von, & Turner, B. (2019). Legal pluralism , social theory , and the state. The Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law, 50(3), 255–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/07329113.2018.1532674
Budiman, A., Rumadi, & Dli’fain, A. F. (2025). The contestation of state, religious, and customary laws on child marriage: A legal pluralism perspective. Hikmatuna: Journal for Integrative Islamic Studies, 11(1), 53–64. https://doi.org/10.28918/hikmatuna.v11i1.11004
Burley, A., & Mattli, W. (2015). Organization : Europe Before the Court : A Political Theory of Legal Europe Before the Court : A Political Theory of Legal Integration (Issue 1993). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818300004707
Darmoyo, S. S., Husni, H., Purnama, E., & Zulfadli, Z. (2024). The Aceh Governor’s Authority in Approving Regional Police Chief Appointments: An Analysis within the Unitary State Framework. Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 12(2), 787–808. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v12i2.1263
Djawas, M., Nadhiran, H., A. Samad, S. A., Mubarrak, Z., & Abrar Azizi, M. (2022). Creating Family Resilience in Indonesia: A Study of “Marriage Guidance” Program in Aceh and South Sumatera. AL-IHKAM: Jurnal Hukum & Pranata Sosial, 17(1), 299–324. https://doi.org/10.19105/al-lhkam.v17i1.6150
Djawas, M., Nurdin, A., Zainuddin, M., & Idami, Z. (2024). Harmonization of State , Custom , and Islamic Law in Aceh : Perspective of Legal Pluralism. 1(1), 64–82. https://doi.org/10.20956/halrev.v10i1.4824
Faiz, A. K., & Izzuddin, A. (2022). Between State Law and Islamic Law: The Practice of Divorce Outside the Situbondo Religious Courts, Indonesia. Journal of Islamic Law, 3(2), 176–192. https://doi.org/10.24260/jil.v3i2.848
Farizi, S. (2019). Risiko Besar Legalisasi Poligami. DetikNews.
Griffiths, J. (1986). What is legal pluralism? The Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law, 18(24), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/07329113.1986.10756387
Hafidzi, A., Bahran, B., Luthfi, F., Rusdiyah, R., Ali, M. H. M., & Esfahani, A. B. (2022). Sirri Marriage Celebration and Its Impact on Social Change in Banjarese Community, South Kalimantan. Al-Ahkam, 32(2), 153–168. https://doi.org/10.21580/ahkam.2022.32.2.12789
Harahap, Z. A. A., Zulfan, & Ridwan, M. (2024). Analyzing the Offense of Juvinile Khalwat in Aceh: Evaluation of Qanun Number 14 of 2003 from an Islamic Legal Perspective. Al-Manahij: Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam, 18(1), 79–94. https://doi.org/10.24090/mnh.v18i1.10648
Hutchinson, A. C., & Monahan, P. J. (1984). Law, Politics, and the Critical Legal Scholars: The Unfolding Drama of American Legal Thought. Stanford Law Review, 36(1&2), 199–245.
Juraida. (2016). Analisis Kasus tentang Poligami yang Dilakukan oleh Pegawai Negeri Sipil (PNS) tanpa Izin Istri Pertama (Studi Putusan Mahkamah Syar`iyah Banda Aceh Nomor 130.PDT-G/2013/MS-BNA. Premise Law Journal, 11, 1.
Laws, S. (2013). Legislation and Politics. In Law in Politic, Politics in Law. Hard Publishing.
Levni, V., & Çelik, S. (2023). Legal Pluralism Theories and Their Position in Islamic Law. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 13(2), 1315–1352. https://doi.org/10.52273/sduhfd..1380859
Mahfud MD, M. (2018). Politik Hukum Di Indonesia (ke-8). Rajawali Pers.
Manan, A., Rasyad, R., Saputra, I. R., Sa’i, S., Daud, A., Tuffahati, Z., & Champion, I. (2024). Morality and Immorality in Politics in Aceh Post 2005 MoU Helsinki (A Case Study on the Relevance of Actions Compared with Peace Promises). Jurnal Ilmiah Peuradeun, 12(3), 1311–1334. https://doi.org/10.26811/peuradeun.v12i3.1295
Marcotte, R. D. (2001). Šahrūr, the status of women, and polygamy in Islam. Oriente Moderno, 81(2–3), 313 – 328. https://doi.org/10.1163/22138617-0810203003
Mudzhar, M. A. (1993). Hukum Keluarga di Dunia Islam Modern: Suatu Studi Perbandingan, (Makalah Disampaikan Pada Kuliah Umum Di Depan Civitas Akademika Fakultas Syari’ah IAIN Sunan Gunung Djati).
Muhazir, M., Azwir, A., & Zubir, Z. (2024). Legal Institutions in Resolving Divorce Cases in Aceh. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 9(1), 211. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v9i1.8529
Mukhlis, Kamarusdiana, K., Rosidin, U., Iqbal, M., & Manas, N. H. N. (2026). Pluralism of Islamic Law in Aceh: Qanun Jinayat in the Framework of the Indonesian New Criminal Code. AHKAM : Jurnal Ilmu Syariah, 26(1), 15–30. https://doi.org/10.15408/ajis.v26i1.45826
Naqiyah, Triana, N., Zakaria, G. A. N., & Liddini, L. (2025). Polygamy Legal Politics in Southeast Asian Muslim Countries: Legal Pluralism and Qur’anic Perspectives. Al-Manahij: Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam, 19(1), 51–64. https://doi.org/10.24090/mnh.v19i1.13201
Nashrullah, M. F., Al Wafi, A. R., Khosyiah, S., Gunariah, F., & Affan Najih Alghifary. (2025). Judicial Invalidation of Ithbāt Nikāḥ Underage in the View of Religious Court Judges in Madura. Al-Ahkam, 35(2), 235–260. https://doi.org/10.21580/ahkam.2025.35.2.27358
Nasrullah, N., Andriawan, W., & Musawar, M. (2024). The Character of Legal Products in Indonesia: A Study of Changes to the Marriage Law from a Political-Law Perspective. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Dan Hukum Islam, 8(1), 602. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v8i1.17302
Noval, Y. (2016). Telaah Kritis Pandangan Ulama Dayah Aceh Utara tentang Aturan Perkawinan Poligami. Syariah: Jurnal Hukum Dan Pemikiran, 16(1), 87 – 94.
Nurlaelawati, E. (2020). Expansive legal interpretation and muslim judges’ approach to polygamy in Indonesia. Hawwa, 18(2–3), 295 – 324. https://doi.org/10.1163/15692086-12341380
Nurnazli, N., Ahmad, H. O., Firdawaty, L., Al Arif, M. Y., & Akmansyah, M. (2024). The Contestation of Islamic Boarding School Womens’s View of Wifes’ Rights in Poligamy. Al-Risalah: Forum Kajian Hukum Dan Sosial Kemasyarakatan, 24(1), 141–160. https://doi.org/10.30631/alrisalah.v24i1.1349
Ramli, M. et. a. (2024). State, Custom, and Islamic Law in Aceh: Minor Dispute Resolution in the Perspective of Legal Pluralism. Samarah, 8(2), 872–890. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v8i2.15924
Ramli, M., Rahmatillah, S., Nurdin, A., & Auliana, N. (2024). Unveiling Illegal Marriages in Aceh : Examining the Role of Unofficial Qadi. El-Mashlahah, 14(2), 409–430. https://doi.org/10.23971/el-mashlahah.v14i2.8887
Rasyid, D. (2001). Formalisasi Syari’at Islam di Serambi Mekkah. In K. Z. dan Syarifuddin (Ed.), Syariat Islam Yes, Syari’at Islam No: Dilema Piagam Jakarta dalam Amandemen UUD 1945 (1st ed., p. 217). Penerbit Paramadina.
Ridwan, M. S., Abdullah, W., & Idham, I. (2024). Public Perception of Polygamy in Makassar, Indonesia: Cultural Perspective and Islamic Law. Samarah, 8(1), 20–38. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v8i1.15419
Ritonga, D., B. Syafuri, Faisal Zulfikar, Tarihoran, N., Jambunanda, A. J., & Karimuddin, K. (2025). Polygamy: A Threat or Opportunity to The Islamic Family? (Sociology and Family Law Perspectives). Nurani: Jurnal Kajian Syari’ah Dan Masyarakat, 25(1), 244–261. https://doi.org/10.19109/nurani.v25i1.27389
Rosman, E., Alfin, A., Miswardi, & Bustamar. (2025). The Contestation of Legal Authority: Local Criminal Law, State Law, and Islamic Law in Nagari Pasia Laweh, West Sumatra. JURIS (Jurnal Ilmiah Syariah), 24(2), 193–203. https://doi.org/10.31958/juris.v24i2.15092
Salim, A. (2015). Contemporary Islamic Law in Indonesia, Sharia and Legal Pluralism. Endinburgh University Press Ltd.
Sarib, S., Yusnita, E., Utama, C., & Zain, M. I. H. (2024). Polygamy among Muallaf in Manado: Islamic Legal Perspectives and Social Challenges. Juris: Jurnal Ilmiah Syariah, 23(2), 241–252. https://doi.org/10.31958/juris.v23i2.12307
Sarina. (2019). Wacana Legalkan Poligami, Pengamat Perempuan: Ini Keputusan Yang Egois. AJNN. https://www.ajnn.net/news/wacana-legalkan-p
Subur, D. (2019). Begini Komentar Darwati A Gani, Istri Irwandi Yusuf Soal Aceh akan Legalkan Poligami. Serambi News. https://aceh.tribunnews.com
Sukmana, T. (2023). Responsive Law and Progressive Law: Examining the Legal Ideas of Philip Nonet, Philip Selznick, and Sadjipto Raharjo. Peradaban Journal of Law and Society, 2(1), 92–105. https://doi.org/10.59001/pjls.v2i1.82
Swenson, G. (2018a). Legal pluralism in theory and practice. International Studies Review, 20(3), 438–462. https://doi.org/10.1093/ISR/VIX060
Swenson, G. (2018b). Legal Pluralism in Theory and Practice. International Studies Review, 20(3), 438–462. https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/vix060
Wintgens, L. J. (2017). Legisprudence as a new theory of legislation. The Theory and Practice of Legislation: Essays in Legisprudence, 19(1), 3–25. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315236841-8
Wirastri, T. D., & van Huis, S. C. (2021). The second wife: Ambivalences towards state regulation of polygamy in Indonesia. Journal of Legal Pluralism and Unofficial Law, 53(2), 246 – 268. https://doi.org/10.1080/07329113.2021.1912579
Yusmita. (2023). Prohibition of Polygamy Women Civil Servants in a Gender Perspective ( Criticism Against PP No. 10 of 1983 Jo PP No. 45 of 1990). Nusantara: Journal of Law Studies, 2(1), 70–77.
Zainuddin, M., Umar, M. N., Sumardi, D., Mansari, & Khalil, Z. F. (2024). Protection of Women and Children in the Perspective of Legal Pluralism: A Study in Aceh and West Nusa Tenggara. Samarah, 8(3), 1948–1973. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v8i3.22203
Zainuri, A., Muslimin, A., & Mukhlishin, A. (2023). Problems of Sirri Marriage and Prisoners: A Case Study in Sukadana, East Lampung, Indonesia. El-Usrah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga, 6(2), 335. https://doi.org/10.22373/ujhk.v6i2.17487
Zamboni, M. (2018). Legislative Policy and Effectiveness: A (Small) Contribution from Legal Theory. European Journal of Risk Regulation, 9(3), 416–430. https://doi.org/10.1017/err.2018.32
Zuhrah, F., Sugiyarto, W., Marpuah, M., Khalikin, A., & Fauzah, T. I. (2025). Tradition Beyond Formal Fiqh: Ethnic Perspectives on Negotiating Kafāʾah in Marriage within the Aceh Singkil Community. Journal of Islamic Law, 6(2), 155–176. https://doi.org/10.24260/jil.v6i2.4187
Interview
IRW. (2021). Personal Interview. Aceh, Indonesia.
TAR/Ulema Consultative Assembly. (2021). Personal Interview. Aceh, Indonesia.
AGI/Islamic Sharia Service Expert Staff. (2021). Personal Interview. Aceh, Indonesia.
SYL/Islamic Sharia Service Expert Staff. (2021). Personal Interview. Aceh, Indonesia.
NUI/Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. (2021) Personal Interview. Aceh, Indonesia.
AGH/Expert Staff of the Aceh House Representative Council. (2021). Personal Interview. Aceh, Indonesia.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Iskandar Ritonga, Muhammad Shodiq, Ulya Atsani
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
