Govt CANING

PETALING JAYA: The Cabinet has denounced the caning of two women for attempting to have lesbian sex, saying the punishment does not reflect the true face of Islam.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said the caning “did not reflect the justice or compassion of Islam”.

The Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court had the women, aged 32 and 22, caned six times each in front of 100 witnesses on Monday.

In a video posted on Twitter and Facebook, Mahathir said a lighter sentence, such as counselling, would have been more appropriate since it was the women’s first offence.

“The Cabinet is of the view that consideration should be given to t hose i nvolved based on t he circumstances,” Mahathir said in the postings after the Cabinet meeting.

“This gives a bad impression of Islam. It is important that we show Islam is not a cruel religion that likes to i mpose harsh sentences to humiliate others.

“In Islam, we can initially give them a lighter sentence and advise them about their wrongdoing.”

Mahathir said the caning incident was not the way to promote Islam.

“We have to be careful how Islam is portrayed, it is not a religion of ‘no compromise’ or ‘no consideration’,” he added.

The caning followed a series of incidents in recent weeks that civil rights groups say illustrate growing hostility against gay and transgender people.

Last month, a gay bar in Kuala Lumpur was raided by police and religious enforcement officials, while a transgender woman was beaten up by a group in Seremban.