IN BETWEEN – YOUTH LIVING UNDER THE SHARIA LAW

Banda Aceh, is an autonomous province in the north of Sumatra, and the only place in Indonesia – the country with the world’s largest Muslim population – where sharia law is currently implemented.

Aceh was the hardest-hit area by the 2004 tsunami where over 170,000 inhabitants tragically lost their lives. Many Acehnese viewed the disaster as punishment for their lack of devotion to God. Though Sharia law was only officially introduced in 2011, the cataclysm helped religious authorities to accelerate radicalization within the society.

Alcohol, gambling, not dressing according to Islamic code, premarital romance, and adultery are now outlawed and punishable by public flogging. A feared “Sharia police” team doles out warnings and passes transgressors on to the relevant authorities.

In March 2016, I spent 10 days with the youth of Banda Aceh, I explored unseen subcultures, and followed the lives of artists, musicians, dancers, skaters and surfers; documenting their efforts to find their own space in a conservative and closed society.

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 25, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Devotees pray inside the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in central Banda Aceh. The mosque is one of the few buildings that survived the 2004 tsunami where +170,000 of Acehnese lost their lives. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 02, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). J. is a young university student who's struggling to find her sexual identity in such a conservative society. “I’m not sure if I can be defined as lesbian of bi-sexual - I am attracted to women by their beauty, intelligence but, I feel more secure to be protected by a man.” Hostility towards LGBT people is increasing in Indonesia. Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Saaduddin Djamal, recently instructed youths in villages to help identifying members of the LGBT community so that they can be helped and re-educated. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 02, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Nanda (17), Puja (17) and Chichi (18), three female members of the rap group Gram Audio Family, pose at the "Thanks to World Park". Nanda started to rap 3 years ago, she is studying at one of the local high schools, and she would like to become a fashion designer. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 26, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Dicky (26) shows one of his tattoos. Dicky is a young semi-pro skater who loves to practice with his friends in front of the Meshud Agung Al Makmur mosque. He lost all his family during the 2004 tsunami and sports a tattoo on his left arm with the date of the tragic event. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 1st, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). A young man, caught spending time alone with his girlfriend, is publicly caned in front of a large crowd in the court yard of a school. Alcohol, gambling, not dressing according to Islamic code, premarital romance, and adultery are outlawed and made punishable by public flogging. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 28, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Dekdi (21), one of the most talented b-boys in Banda Aceh, performs during a break dancing contest held at a skart park in Oleelheue. He recently won the Break Invasion 7 in Medan, one of the most important contests in Indonesia. Dekdi started dancing 7 years ago and he recently began teaching young break dancers. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 28, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). - Some of the members of Nanggroe Break Cypherz crew relax in a coffee bar. Young people in Banda Aceh don't have many places where they can hang out, and they normally meet in numerous cafes around the city. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 26, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Yudy (26) performs a rail trick in a skate park in front of the Meshud Agung Al Makmur mosque. Around 30 young people skate in Banda Aceh, among them there are 3 girls. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 03, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Ferry (23) and Syifa (20) paint a wall together with other members of their crew. Ferry likes visual arts and founded the crew 3 years ago. Islam has a complicated relationship with drawing, as for some people, to “illustrate creatures with souls” is considered forbidden. He thinks that most of the young people oppose the Sharia law. and is thinking of leaving Aceh in the near future as it’s not a good place for him. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 23, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Two young girls play with their smartphones before the beginning of prayer at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in central Banda Aceh. The mosque was one of the few buildings that survived the 2004 tsunami where +170,000 of Acehnese lost their lives. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 27, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). - Diva (17) practices break dancing under the supervision of Dekdi, one of the best b-boys in Banda Aceh. Diva is a high school student and started practicising break dancing 3-months ago. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 28, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Tya (26) learns how to paddle on a surf board in the water of Lho-nga beach in Lampuuk, a few km' outisde of Banda Aceh. She works at a car dealership and tries to come to the beach every day after work. She consideres Lho-nga the only place in Banda Aceh where she can be herself. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 1st, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). People watch a public caning ceremony in which 18 people are convicted and punished for "immoral acts" - including a young unmarried couple who were caught spending time alone together. Alcohol, gambling, not dressing according to Islamic code, premarital romance and adultery are outlawed and made punishable by public flogging. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 29, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). - Felicya (20) practices board tricks with her friends in a skate park in front of the Meshud Agung Al Makmur mosque. She started skating just 2-years ago and she would like to see more girls doing it. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 1st, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). The interior of one of the rooms used by a member of the Kommunitas Kanoot Pu- a collective of artists that live in an abandoned building that was damaged during the tsunami. The collective is composed of 15 members (4 women), among them are painters, illustrators, comic designers, writers, journalists and poets. Their aim is to give knowledge to people, teaching critical thinking. Much of their art has a strong social message. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 27, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Friends of Jakie (right) like to gather inside his bike shop to talk in central Banda Aceh. He's considered one of the best skater and surfer in town. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 28, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). - Kiki (center), one of the few b-girls in town, assists a break dancing contest organized at a skate park in Oleelheue. She works as a receptionist, but she’s studying to be a graphic designer and animator. She loves dancing and would like to participate in contests abroad. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 28, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). - Ryan (22) and Aulia (32), two of the local surfers, check the conditions of the waves at Lho-Nga, a beach located a few Km outside Banda Aceh. Ryan is studying economics and has been surfing for 14 years. He was living in Bali but decided to come back to finish his studies in Banda Aceh. He misses the waves and lifestyle of Bali, and is planning to leave again, as soon as he's finished with school. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 03, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). A young bride wearing a traditional Acehnese dress, gets married in the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in central Banda Aceh. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 28, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). - Some of the members of the Nanggroe Break Cypherz crew chat after a break dancing contest organized at a skate park in Oleelheue.© Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 28, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Local surfers get ready to enter the waters of Lho-Nga, a beach located a few Km outside of Banda Aceh, and one of the best surf spots in north Sumatra. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 29, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). A young woman visits the Tsunami museum. Aceh was the hardest-hit area by the 2004 tsunami where +170,000 of its habitants lost their lives in the tragic event. Many Acehnese viewed the disaster as punishment for their lack of devotion to God. Though the Sharia law was officially introduced in 2011, the cataclysmic event helped religious authorities bring a further radicalisation within the society. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 1st, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). One of the members of the Kommunitas Kanoot Pu, a collective of artists that live in an abandoned building that was damaged during the tsunami, collects water from a pit built in the courtyard. The collective is composed of 15 members (4 women), among them are painters, illustrators, comic designers, writers, journalists and poets. Their aim is to give knowledge to people, teaching critical thinking. Much of their art has a strong social message. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 28, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Dekdi (front) and his brother Nay (blue t-shirt) pray at the back of a cafe. Praying 5 times a day, is mandatory for muslims in Banda Aceh, and many cafes are equipped with prayer areas for the clients. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 02, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). - Kiki, one of the few b-girls in town, talks with Nay after a session of break dancing. Many young people consider Nay as a big brother. He's the owner of a barber shop, a restaurant, and is the founder of the biggest hip hop crew in Banda Aceh. He also designs t-shirts. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 29, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Young girls visit the Tsunami museum. Aceh was the hardest-hit area by the 2004 tsunami where +170,000 of its habitants lost their lives in the tragic event. Many Acehnese viewed the disaster as punishment for their lack of devotion to God. Though the Sharia law was officially introduced in 2011, the cataclysmic event helped religious authorities bring a further radicalisation within the society. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 28, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Dekdi (21), one of the most talented b-boys in Banda Aceh, smokes from a vaporizer. He recently won the Break Invasion 7 in Medan, one of the most important contests in Indonesia. Dekdi started dancing 7-years ago and he recently began teaching young break dancers. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 29, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). - Felicya (center) hangs with her friends at a skate park in front of the Meshud Agung Al Makmur mosque. She started skating just 2-years ago, and would like to see more girls doing it. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

March 03, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). Sofia and her friends enjoy their time together time at Lho-nga beach in Lampuuk, a few km outisde of Banda Aceh. It is considered as the “tsunami ground zero”. Sofia loves to go to the beach, as it’s the only place where she feels free from all the restraints of society. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom

In between - living under the Sharia Law

February 25, 2016 - Banda Aceh (Indonesia). A young woman sits outside the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in central Banda Aceh. The mosque was one of the few buildings that survived the 2004 tsunami where +170,000 of Acehnese lost their lives. © Thomas Cristofoletti / Ruom