Malaysian Muslims to be caned for drinking - paper
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Malaysian Muslims to be caned for drinking - paper
Wed June 15, 2005 8:40 AM GMT 05:30
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Muslim court in Malaysia has ordered two men to be caned for drinking alcohol in public, perhaps the first time such a harsh sentence has been meted out in the moderate, mainly Muslim nation, a daily said on Wednesday.
Two brothers, both factory workers, were caught drinking alcohol at a restaurant last year on the country's predominantly Muslim east coast and pleaded guilty, believing they would be let off with a fine, the New Straits Times reported.
'The imposition of the caning penalty caught everyone by surprise in court today...,' the paper said, adding that the pair, aged 30 and 32, had also been fined 5,000 ringgit ($1,316) each -- a few months' salary for many poorly paid Malaysians.
Muslims make up a slim majority of Malaysia's population of about 25 million people, who are governed by a secular government that includes ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian parties.
But the state religion is Islam, a powerful ingredient in domestic politics. Northern Kelantan state is run by an Islamic party that wants Malaysia to become a full Islamic state based on Sharia law, including punishments like stoning and amputation.
Currently, Sharia law applies to ethnic Malays, who make up the Muslim population. It is used mainly for family law and normally metes out small fines for religious offences such as drinking alcohol and not observing the fasting month of Ramadan.
Criminal law is based on a legal system similar to that of Britain, Malaysia's former colonial master.
The brothers, to receive the maximum six strokes of the cane, may appeal the sentence, the defence lawyer was quoted as saying."
World
Malaysian Muslims to be caned for drinking - paper
Wed June 15, 2005 8:40 AM GMT 05:30
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Muslim court in Malaysia has ordered two men to be caned for drinking alcohol in public, perhaps the first time such a harsh sentence has been meted out in the moderate, mainly Muslim nation, a daily said on Wednesday.
Two brothers, both factory workers, were caught drinking alcohol at a restaurant last year on the country's predominantly Muslim east coast and pleaded guilty, believing they would be let off with a fine, the New Straits Times reported.
'The imposition of the caning penalty caught everyone by surprise in court today...,' the paper said, adding that the pair, aged 30 and 32, had also been fined 5,000 ringgit ($1,316) each -- a few months' salary for many poorly paid Malaysians.
Muslims make up a slim majority of Malaysia's population of about 25 million people, who are governed by a secular government that includes ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian parties.
But the state religion is Islam, a powerful ingredient in domestic politics. Northern Kelantan state is run by an Islamic party that wants Malaysia to become a full Islamic state based on Sharia law, including punishments like stoning and amputation.
Currently, Sharia law applies to ethnic Malays, who make up the Muslim population. It is used mainly for family law and normally metes out small fines for religious offences such as drinking alcohol and not observing the fasting month of Ramadan.
Criminal law is based on a legal system similar to that of Britain, Malaysia's former colonial master.
The brothers, to receive the maximum six strokes of the cane, may appeal the sentence, the defence lawyer was quoted as saying."
posted by ltf ha at 5:42 AM
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