42-year-old Man Flogged Inside Mosque For Being Alone With Woman Not His Wife

A 42-year-old man has been subjected to flogging within a mosque in Malaysia after being found guilty of an Islamic offence for spending time alone with a woman who was not his wife or a relative.

Naija News understands that the construction worker received six lashes in the conservative state of Terengganu on Friday (today) following a conviction by a Sharia court, as reported by the official Bernama news agency.

This incident marks the first occasion in Malaysia where a Sharia court-ordered whipping has occurred outside of a courtroom, according to the agency.

An AFP journalist observed the man being transported to the mosque in a prison van after Friday prayers, dressed in an orange inmate jumpsuit as he entered before a silent audience.

The caning, which serves as punishment for the Islamic offence known as “Khalwat,” took place inside the mosque after approximately 90 individuals were allowed to attend.

Earlier in the week, the Malaysian Bar Association expressed “profound concern” regarding the decision to impose flogging on the individual.

“Such punishments strip individuals of their dignity,” a statement said.

But Spectator Mohd Sabri Muhammad hoped it would deter those “tempted to commit immoral acts”.

“Valentine’s Day, New Year’s, there are many opportunities for young people to engage in inappropriate behaviour,” the 37-year-old told AFP.

Multi-ethnic Malaysia has a dual-track legal system, with Islamic courts handling some matters for Muslim citizens.

Caning generally occurs on individuals who are fully clothed, and detractors argue that its purpose is not only to inflict physical pain but also to humiliate the individual subjected to it.

While court-ordered caning under Sharia law is infrequent, it is not unheard of in Malaysia.

In 2018, two women found guilty of breaching religious laws by engaging in sexual relations were caned publicly in an Islamic court, witnessed by over 100 spectators.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia stated last week that “punishments that cause physical harm and public humiliation are incompatible with a contemporary justice system.”