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| Southeast Asia | |
| M'sian woman to be caned for drinking | |
| 2009-01-14 | |
| A RELIGIOUS court has sentenced a Muslim woman to six strokes of the cane for drinking alcohol, possibly for the first time in Malaysia. In 2005, the same judge sentenced two Muslim brothers to six strokes of the cane after they were caught drinking. However, the caning has yet to be carried out as the brothers are appealing against the decision. The Syariah High Court in Pahang also handed the same sentence to a man on Monday, and is due to make a decision on another woman in May. Mohamad Nasir Mohamad, 38, a father of four, and waitress Noorazah Baharuddin, 22, were found drinking beer separately in pubs in July last year in central Pahang state, said reports released yesterday. Nasir admitted that he had drunk beer at a pub in Cherating on July 11, while Noorazah was caught drinking at the pub where she worked, in Jalan Gambut. Both were also fined RM5,000 (S$2,100) each by the Pahang court on Monday. The third accused was part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32. According to the New Straits Times, Kartika, a Singapore permanent resident, could not attend court as she is studying in Singapore.
The case comes after two controversial fatwas, or edicts - one over tomboyish behaviour by women and the other concerning the practice of yoga - sparked intense public debate over decisions made by the country's top religious body. Malaysia has a two-track legal system, with the civil courts operating alongside state-based syariah courts. Muslims are governed by syariah laws in family and personal matters, while ethnic Chinese, Indians and other races come under civil courts. | |
| Posted by:Fred |