Living Law in Indonesia’s New Criminal Code: Legal Controversies and its Relevance with the Urf
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28918/jhi.v23i2.07Abstract
The concept of living law in the new Criminal Code has sparked debate because of the potential for legal uncertainty, multiple interpretations, and the risk of criminalization. The resonance of this discourse also penetrates the arena of Islamic legal studies. This study analyzes the living law controversy in the new Criminal Code, the implications of recognizing living law, and its relevance to the concept of 'urf in Islamic law. Adopting a qualitative research design with a juridical-normative approach, data were collected through documentary studies of relevant laws, regulations, and literature. Research findings show that the recognition of living law terminology in the new Criminal Code results in an expansion of the principle of legality because it can criminalize actions that are not regulated in statutory regulations while also allowing customary sanctions as a form of redress (retorative), not as retaliation (retributive). The concepts of 'urf and living law have epistemological relevance in that they recognize socially embedded norms as legitimate sources for regulating people’s behavior. However, 'urf cannot be used as an absolute basis for justifying the living law rules in the new Criminal Code because its application must be consistent with normative Shariah parameters. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating the concept of 'urf in identifying living law that meets constitutional-juridical qualifications, thereby strengthening the legitimacy of legal norms, minimizing potential conflicts between positive law, customary law, and Islamic law, while increasing community acceptance and compliance with the law.
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