‘Public caning of women for same sex relations violation of human rights’

KUCHING: Public caning of two women found gui lty of attempting same sex relations is a violation of human rights, says Sarawak United People’s Party ( SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan.

Acknowledging that same sex relations are banned not only in Islam but many other religions as well, Kho, however, expressed concern over the need for the Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court to impose a public caning sentence which was witnessed by over 100 people.

“Those who committed the offence could be punished according to their religious laws. Every religion teaches us to be companionate, even in our punishment. In the case of Kuala Terengganu, I think the public canning of these women is very severe and it is a violation of their human rights,” she said in a press statement issued yesterday.

“If our society doesn’t punish the serial rapists or paedophiles in public, why are we punishing these women in front of so many people?’ she asked.

In comparing same sex relationship with rape and paedophilic acts, Kho believes the society will benefit more if the identity of all serial rapists and paedophiles is made public instead of caning those guilty of same sex relations.

“These perpetrators caused physical and mental harm to the victims and their families. Whereas in this case in Kuala Terengganu, the attempted same sex relations was a consensual act between two adult females with no victim involved,” she reasoned.

Kho thus urged the Syariah High court to reconsider public canning of any kind.