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KUALA LUMPUR – A Malaysian man faced public caning at a mosque in Terengganu on Friday after being convicted of engaging in the Islamic offense of “khalwat,” which refers to being in close proximity to a non-family member of the opposite sex. This event, reported by local media, is notable for its public nature.
In Malaysia, a country with a Muslim majority, a dual legal system exists where Islamic laws for criminal and family matters apply specifically to Muslims, alongside the country’s secular legal framework.
The individual, identified as Mohd Affendi Awang, 42, had previously been convicted of this offense. Following a guilty plea last month, he received a sentence that included six strokes of the cane and a financial penalty.
The caning ceremony took place after Friday prayers, witnessed by around 90 members of the public and under heavy police supervision. Mohd Affendi, who works in construction and is a father of five, underwent a medical check-up prior to the punishment, as reported by the Malay-language publication Utusan Malaysia.
Further reports from local broadcaster Astro Awani indicated that the actual caning, executed by a prison officer, lasted approximately two minutes.
The state of Terengganu is governed by the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), a political party known for advocating a more stringent interpretation of Islamic law.
Notably, in 2018, the state was involved in a public caning of two women convicted of attempting to engage in lesbian acts, an event that incited significant backlash from human rights organizations.
Following the recent caning, PAS Deputy President Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man remarked that this act illustrates the commitment of the Terengganu government to enhance the enforcement of Islamic laws. He emphasized that such public punishments for repeat offenders of khalwat are intended to serve as a lesson and comply with divine commands.
In response to this incident, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia expressed its condemnation of the court’s ruling, arguing that such punitive measures violate fundamental human rights and question the legality of public caning within the context of the Malaysian Federal Constitution and federal laws.
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