Seeing Aceh from afar: A critical discourse analysis of Sharia law in BBC and CNN

The implementation of sharia law in the northernmost autonomous province of Aceh, Indonesia, has been widely discussed in international news outlets. This qualitative study explores how Sharia law is implemented in Aceh, as represented by BBC and CNN from afar. For these reasons, three BBC and CNN reports were analyzed using the three-dimensional framework (text, interpretation, and explanation) of the critical discourse analysis (CDA) model proposed by Fairclough. The findings indicate that BBC and CNN shaped negative representations of the implementation of Aceh Sharia law in their reporting. Furthermore, the findings expose that BBC and CNN reports utilized particular offensive language that damagingly characterize Aceh sharia implementation as “draconian,” “abusive,” and “barbaric.” The BBC and CNN deficit discourse must be situated within diverse standpoints informed by CDA principles and media impartiality. In light of the findings, this study challenges the inadequately constructed deficit discourse and stigmatization of Aceh sharia law’s image. It provides valuable suggestions for CDA lecturers and students, including media professionals, on adopting more astute language and applying CDA awareness to complex legal and cultural topics.