PETALING JAYA: The recent caning of three Muslim women for illicit sex has drawn outrage from women’s groups but Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) say the punishment should not be “sensationalised.”
All Women’s Action Society (Awam) president Sofia Lim Siu Ching said the Home Ministry needed to explain why the punishment was carried out in secret.
“The expediency and the secrecy reek of bad faith and betray a troubling disregard for public opinion on an issue that has drawn attention around the globe,” she said in a statement Thursday.
Sisters in Islam (SIS) executive director Dr Hamidah Marican said the three cases constituted further discrimination against Muslim women in Malaysia.
“It violates constitutional guarantees of equality and non-discrimination as the whipping of women under Syariah Criminal Offences legislation contradicts civil law where women are not punishable by caning under Section 289 of the Criminal Procedure Code,” she said.
Dr Hamidah asked whether the men involved were similarly caned.
“We urge the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to take immediate steps to address the unresolved issues arising from the sentence carried out on these women and the Kartika case.”
Bar Council chairman Ragunath Kesavan urged the Government to immediately review and abolish all forms of punishment involving whipping and to comply with international norms and principles on it.
Malaysian Assembly of Mosque Youths de facto leader Dr Mohd Nawar Ariffin said, however, that society must look at the issue in “a broader context.”
“Look at the message behind the punishment. Illicit sex could easily lead to other social ills such as abortion and baby dumping. The punishment serves as a proposed solution for other social problems.
“There should be nothing wrong if the sentence is carried out properly in accordance with Syariah law,” he said when contacted.
Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Dr Ma’amor Osman said punishment under Syariah law is more than just a punitive measure but serves as a lesson to other Muslims.
On Wednesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said three women were caned on Feb 9 at the Kajang Prison under Section 23 (2) of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 for having illicit sex.
The trio became the first women in the country to be caned for committing syariah offences.
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