In a controversial act of public punishment, a 30-something construction worker named Mohd Affendi Awang was caned six times at the Masjid Al-Muktafi Billah Shah mosque in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, igniting a fierce wave of outrage from human rights advocates. This harsh consequence stemmed from his plea of guilt for being found in the company of a woman who was neither his wife nor a close relative. The caning took place following Friday prayers, marking the first such incident in contemporary Malaysia.
Witnesses reported that the physical punishment lasted around two minutes, with the police tightly controlling the crowd to a mere 70 onlookers while unyielding restrictions prohibited anyone from recording the act. This incident highlights a growing trend under Terengganu’s Islamist governance by the PAS party, which has actively reinforced Islamic laws in recent years. It’s worth noting that similar canings have been conducted before; two women were punished for indecent acts in a parked car just a few years ago in the same state.
A construction worker in Malaysia was publicly caned six times for being alone with a woman who was not his wife, provoking significant human rights outrage. This punishment occurred at a mosque following prayers, highlighting the increasing enforcement of sharia law in Terengganu, a region governed by the Islamist PAS party. The incident emphasizes the growing tension between cultural practices and human rights standards within the nation.
The public caning of Mohd Affendi Awang serves as a striking example of the continuing divergence between human rights standards and sharia law enforcement in Malaysia. This event has not only reignited an age-old debate about the public’s role in enforcing moral conduct but also calls into question the state’s commitment to human rights amid its legal practices. With increasing scrutiny from global and local human rights groups alike, the conversation surrounding sharia courts and their punishments is more relevant than ever.
The backdrop to this event involves Malaysia’s ongoing legal and social framework, specifically the increasing implementation of sharia law in certain states. Governed by the PAS party, Terengganu has undergone more severe applications of Islamic law, leading to a culture that values adherence to these rules. Public punishments like caning serve as both a deterrent and a stark reminder of the strict legal boundaries set by sharia law in Malaysia.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
