Don’t ridicule lesbian case women – Syariah Court

KUALA TERENGGANU: “Do not look down on the two women offenders as when they accepted the punishment, it meant they were repentant about their wrongdoing.”

This was the reminder from Syariah Court Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail following the execution of the sentence of six strokes of the cane by the Terengganu Syariah High Court yesterday on two women who were found guilty of attempting to have same-sex relations when they were detained in a car in April.

He stressed that the sentence was a lesson, a reminder and deterrent to the offenders and society not to commit it in the future.

“Under syariah (law), caning is not meant to hurt or torture the offender. May this sentence be a lesson and reminder to all Muslims and show that syariah punishment is meant to educate, and not cause pain,” he said.

Kamalruazmi was speaking at the start of the proceedings witnessed by Terengganu Syariah Chief Judge Wan Mohd Zakri Wan Mohd and Terengganu Syariah Senior Judge Rosdi Harun as well as more than 100 people who were in the public gallery.

The two women, aged 32 and 22, were sentenced to six strokes of the cane for attempting to have sex in a car at Dataran Arena Square, Dungun, at 1.50 pm on April 8.

They were also fined RM3,300 or four months’ jail if they failed to pay the fine.

The women were charged under Section 30 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Takzir) (Terengganu) 2001 which was read together with Section 59 (1) for lesbianism.

The two women were given the opportunity to appeal the caning sentence within 14 days but did not do so.