Malaysia court backs away from caning
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - An Islamic court in Malaysia put on hold indefinitely the caning of a woman found guilty of drinking beer because the sentence was too harsh, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.
The chief judge of Pahang state’s Shariah court decided on Monday to defer the caning of 32-year old Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno pending a review, as it was deemed too extreme, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Malaysia’s home minister indicated the caning was unlikely to be carried out, arguing the prisons department did not have staff with the expertise to administer the caning according to Shariah laws.
The developments will probably defuse growing consternation in Malaysia over the unusual sentencing, which, if carried out, would make Kartika, a part-time model and mother of two, the first woman to be caned in the country.
Kartika was arrested by Islamic morality police for drinking beer at a beach resort in Pahang in December 2007. Her plight has drawn attention to the use of Islamic laws and raised questions on whether a radical brand of Islam is taking root in this traditionally moderate Muslim-majority country.
Malaysia’s Muslims, who make up 60 percent of the country’s 27 million people, are prohibited from drinking alcohol.
