The Contestation of Legal Authority: Local Criminal Law, State Law, and Islamic Law in Nagari Pasia Laweh, West Sumatra

Abstrak

The enforcement of law in Indonesia reflects a complex interaction between national legislation, Islamic law, and local customary systems, revealing the country’s deeply plural legal landscape. This study aims to examine how legal authority is negotiated among these frameworks within the constitutional nagari of Pasia Laweh in West Sumatra. Employing a qualitative socio-legal method, the research draws on field data collected between 2017 and 2024 through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation to explore how the Kerapatan Adat Nagari (traditional council) resolves criminal cases. Findings indicate that at least seven minor criminal cases—such as theft, assault, and family-related offenses—were resolved through custom-based deliberation rather than formal state procedures. Sanctions typically included fines, public apologies, and reconciliation rituals, which were perceived by the community as more effective in restoring social harmony. From an Islamic perspective, these practices align with the principles of restorative justice and maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah, emphasizing the preservation of social order and communal dignity. The study concludes that the customary justice system of Pasia Laweh does not contradict state or Islamic law but demonstrates an active contestation and negotiation of legal authority within Indonesia’s plural legal order. This research, by foregrounding the restorative nature and cultural legitimacy of customary practices, seeks to reposition justice not merely as a legal procedure but as a moral and social endeavor. In doing so, it contributes to the ongoing discourse on decolonizing justice and offers grounded reflections for reforming Indonesia’s criminal justice system in a culturally responsive manner.