Human Rights Groups Call on Malaysia To End Corporal Punishment

After the caning of two women for having gay sex, Malaysian human rights groups are calling on the government to end corporal punishments.

The two women were caned in front of a crowd of a hundred people after being found having sex in a car by Sharia law enforcers. They were also fined RM3,300 (£630) each.

Malaysia’s Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) called the caning “inhuman and cruel” and pointed out the pair originally pleaded not guilty to the charges in July but later changed their plea because they were not given proper legal advice.

“It is hard to get legal counsel, there is also no pro bono lawyers under the Syariah criminal offence. This is a systemic issue,” Thilaga Sulathire, cofounder of JAG, said.

Malaysia operates under two legal systems that run separate from each other: a traditional judiciary system, and the Syariah Court (or Shariah) which operates over matters of family law and religious observance for Muslims.

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