Muslim women caned for illicit sex in Malaysia

[upi402]

from The Star Online (Malaysia) :

Friday February 19, 2010
Caning ‘has done us a world of good’
By MAZWIN NIK ANIS

KAJANG: Ayu, Aishah and Nur (not their real names) are not at all upset they were caned under the Syariah law for committing illicit sex.

The punishment at the Kajang Prison did not leave physical scars on their bodies.

The three, aged between 18 and mid-20s, had each delivered a child out of wedlock.

They had surrendered themselves to the Federal Terrority Religious Department (Jawi).

Ayu, who was released from Kajang Prison last Sunday, said the caning was not painful and was over in a few minutes.

“I truly am sorry for committing the sin and I have repented. I feel that it is my responsibility to remind my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters not to commit sin, and that is why I am sharing my experience,” she told reporters yesterday.

Ayu was sentenced to a RM1,000 fine and caned four times.

She had heard about Muslims being caned for committing religious offences but never thought that such punishment really existed.

On Wednesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein confirmed that three Muslim women were caned last Tuesday for engaging in illicit sex, making them the first women in Malaysia to receive such punishment under Syariah law.

The issue of caning of women had ignited a fierce debate in the country after 32-year-old Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno was sentenced to be caned for drinking beer last July.

The sentence against her has yet to be executed.

Aishah, 18, surrendered herself to Jawi last December after her child, who was born prematurely, died.

The Syariah Court had sentenced her to six months jail, RM3,000 fine and six strokes of the rotan.

“I know I have sinned and I have to be punished. Strangely however, I felt that the caning was not a form of punishment but was an opportunity for me to repent and return to the right path,” she said.

The third offender, Nur, who has a three-year-old toddler, said although she had wanted to make things right by marrying her lover, she took a long time to do so as she could not find her father to give her away.

“However, I know that is not an excuse. I know that I am wrong. Now is the time for me to be a good and faithful Muslim,” said Nur who was sentenced to 30 days jail and six strokes of the rotan.

[aquart]

1. How many times were the men caned?

[upi402]

2. That's not mentioned. I think Shariya law says that non-muslims are not subject

to the punishment. But it looks like it was not a lesbian affair. But good question.

[Yurovsky]

3. The article makes it sound like they voluntarily submitted to the canings...

which is a level of committment to one's religion that I can't fathom.


(edited for spelling...)

[upi402]

8. I think they felt they HAD to make those statements. n/t

[Greyhound]

4. Gimme that ole-time religion...

:wtf:

[aquart]

6. Patriarchal religion is NEVER good for women.

I don't care how many women support and teach it to their innocent children.

[Greyhound]

9. Agreed, bad for people, but especially terrible to women. n/t

:kick:

[timeforpeace]

5. NOW will be all over this.

[Quantess]

7. That's a really sick and deplorable aspect of their culture.

[asjr]

10. If God did indeed create man he sure as

hell screwed up in Malaysia.

[upi402]

11. I think Malaysia is less extreme, comparatively

It's neighbors seem more extreme. Except that Thailand is mainly Buddhist but Muslims are trying to separate a Muslim area in the south of Thailand. Bombings, killings of all sort, murdering teachers...

Indonesia is the 4th most populist country and it's officially Muslim, recall the disco bombing in Bali. And the Philippines has many kidnappings etc by the Muslim militant group Abu Sayyaf.

Doesn't sound very pleasant to be a woman or a free thinker there.

[Quantess]

12. I had a fairly RW college instructor for Business 101

He found Malaysia to be a delightful place to visit, and complimented them on their toughness on crime. He liked the fact that nobody ever littered. I suppose that's because anyone caught littering would be caned.

[Canuckistanian]

13. The "rotan"

[mrcheerful]

14. Thats what happens when governments decide whats is legal and illicit

sex. Sure some things should be illegal when it conflicts with age but these governments back the religious brand of legal where as only married women are having legal sex with their hubbys, no matter their age. So another form of hypocrisy we see.