KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu Syariah High Court yesterday ordered a sentence of six strokes of the cane to two women who were found guilty of attempting to have same-sex relations.
The women, aged 32 and 22, were sentenced to six strokes of the cane for attempting to have sex in a car at Dataran Arena Square, Dungun, at 1.50pm on April 8.
They were also fined RM3,300 or four months’ jail if they failed to pay the fine.
According to Syariah Court Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail, the sentence was a lesson, a reminder and deterrent to the offenders and society not to commit it in the future.
“Do not look down on the two women offenders as when they accepted the punishment, it meant they were repentant about their wrongdoing.
“Under syariah (law), caning is not meant to hurt or torture the offender. May this sentence be a lesson and reminder to all Muslims and show that syariah punishment is meant to educate, and not cause pain,” he said at the start of the proceedings witnessed by Terengganu Syariah Chief Judge Wan Mohd Zakri Wan Mohd and Terengganu Syariah Senior Judge Rosdi Harun as well as more than 100 people who were in the public gallery.
The women were charged under Section 30 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Takzir) (Terengganu) 2001 which was read together with Section 59 (1) for lesbianism.
The two women were given the opportunity to appeal the caning sentence within 14 days but did not do so.
Meanwhile, in a press conference held yesterday, state Syariah Implementation, Education and Higher Education Committee Chairman Satiful Bahari Mamat who witnessed the execution of the sentence also gave a similar reminder and hoped there would not be any negative speculation about the case.
He said all procedures were observed in meting out the sentence. –Bernama
