Kelantan PAS public flogging demo plan perpetuates violence against women

Not only is the idea by the PAS-led Kelantan state government to hold a public caning demonstration to “educate” the masses on the difference in the punishment meted by civil court and the Syariah court abhorrent, such depraved acts encourage further battery and sexual violence including gang rape against women and perpetuates the myth that females are subservient to men.

Examples of such public canings in Acheh, Sudan, Somalia, Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia reveal that the executioner is usually a male standing who will flog the female “offender” who is made to kneel including non-Muslims. The message sent from this spectacle of an ordeal is that it is ok, even justifiable for males to physically and sexually attack women.

According to the Kelantan and Terengganu State Hudud Enactments, the testimony of non-Muslims and women will not be accepted in the trial of any sexual offences. Furthermore, a rape victim is required to produce 4 righteous Muslim males to be her witnesses.

It is not uncommon to read of gang rape victims in countries which enforced hudud law being sentenced up to 1,000 floggings coupled with imprisonment. This is because for rape victim’s failure to produce the required 4 righteous male Muslims, the victim is deemed to have committed pre-marital sexual intercourse or adultery. Such a scenario could also be replicated in Malaysia if PAS has its way with public flogging.

In the Kelantan and Terengganu context which also provides for whipping for alcohol consumption, the female rape or incest victim could thus be sentenced up to 180 lashes (her police report will be deemed as a “false accusation” and thus cause her to be punished with 80 lashes, while the non-consensual sexual intercourse coerced unto her is proof of sex before/outside marriage and she will thus receive another 100 lashes.)

How will the mathematics for flogging be tabulated if a rape victim is gang raped by 10 men? 180 lashes multiplied by 10 equals 1,800 stokes? Sexual assault is terrible enough, but we cannot be naïve and assume gang rape does not occur.

Wanita MCA hereby challenges PAS to use a male model as the executioner and a female model to be whipped publicly, and gauge for themselves the outrage in response they will receive from netizens and the world. Nevertheless, given the carnival-like atmosphere where canings are performed in the open, Wanita MCA sadly recognizes with despondency that public corporal punishments also encourages voyeurism.

Hence, it is incumbent on all MPs to set aside political affiliation and reject the PAS President Dato’ Seri Hadi Awang’s proposed amendments to the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965.  

Ng Siok Hwa
Wanita MCA Deputy Secretary General

-MCA online-