Aceh in Indonesia regularly canes criminals, and now for alleged LGBTI people face the brutal punishment. | Photo: Amnesty International
Malaysia caned two women under Islamic law on Monday (3 September) for having lesbian sex.
Human rights groups and LGBTI activists immediately denounced the punishment.
The two women, aged 22 and 32, were arrested by Islamic enforcement officers in April.
Officers found them together in a car park in the country’s conservative Terengganu state.
An Islamic Sharia Court therefore sentenced the women to six lashes and a fine of RM3,330 (US$814).
Last week, the court postponed their caning due to ‘technical reasons’.
Previously, when sentencing the women, Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail said the harsh sentence would act as a deterrent to others.
‘[This]adequate punishment must be meted out so that this becomes a lesson and reminder to not just the two of you, but the members of society,’ the judge said in his ruling.
Twenty minutes of pain
The whipping started at 10am and ended approximately 20 minutes later, Muslim Lawyers Association deputy president Abdul Rahim Sinwan told the Malay Mail.
A caning officer caned the two women six times individually. Importantly, it took place in front of the judge and an audience of 100 people.
Malaysia punished the two women under Sections 30 and 59(1) of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment.
In Malaysia, Islamic courts can cover religious and family matters for Muslim citizens. This runs in parallel to the main legal system.
Homosexuality remains illegal in Malaysia under the British colonial-era statute, Section 377A.
Activists said this is the first time recently Malaysia has used the punishment against homosexuals.
In Indonesia’s Aceh province, canings are often dealt out for homosexual acts under Sharia law.
‘Inhuman and degrading’
Malaysia is becoming an increasingly hostile place for LGBTI people. Therefore, local and international rights groups on Monday denounced the punishment.
The caning was a ‘a dreadful reminder of the depth of discrimination LGBTI people face in the country,’ said Amnesty International Malaysia.
‘The new government condones the use of inhuman and degrading punishments, much like its predecessor,’ it said on Twitter.
On Sunday (2 September), LGBTI groups in Malaysia issued a joint statement. They said the marginalized community had not received any respite since Pakatan Harapan took power.
The public caning of the two women in #Malaysia is a dreadful reminder of the depth of discrimination #LGBTI people face in the country and a sign that the new government condones the use of inhuman and degrading punishments, much like its predecessor. pic.twitter.com/YQEQlJWec1
— Amnesty International Malaysia (@AmnestyMy) September 3, 2018
