Call for moratorium on corporal punishment

KUALA LUMPUR: The Joint Action Group (JAG) for gender equality has called on the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government and AttorneyGeneral Tommy Thomas to place an immediate moratorium on corporal punishment following the caning of two women in Terenganu on Sept 3.

Sisters in Islam executive director Rozana Isa said JAG had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Thomas on Aug 30, with the hope of putting an end to corporal punishment.

The memorandum that was presented included four main guidelines which were syariah grounds, sentencing guidelines, constitutional and legal issues, as well as international obligations.

“The public caning, which was held recently, was portrayed as a punishment that was not torturous. We would like to emphasise that whipping is a cruel and tyranical mean/form of punishment, and there can be no humane reason behind it,” said Rozana.

“Why do we want to take personal sins as a criminal offence?” she asked.

The press conference held yesterday was also attended by other JAG members including Suhakam, Justice for Sisters and Persatuan Kesedaran Komunity Selangor.

On another matter, Justice for Sisters founder Thilaga Sulathireh highlighted the issue of women lacking access to justice in Malaysia.

“The two women had pleaded not guilty to the charges in July, but had changed their plea. They were not given any legal advice.

“It is hard to get legal counsel as there are also no pro bono lawyers under the syariah criminal offence. This is a systemic issue.”

Suhakam commissioner Datuk Lok Yim Pheng said the commission has urged the government to approve the UN Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhumane and Degrading Treatment and Punishment.

Earlier this month, the Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court had ordered the women to be caned six times each in front of 100 witnesses for attempting to have lesbian sex.