KUANTAN: Caning people involved in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activities can be carried out, as long as it is enshrined in law, says Pahang mufti Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman.
He said it should not be a problem carrying out the punishment if the law had passed the legislative process at the state assembly.
Dr Abdul Rahman was responding to Pahang Islamic Religion Department (JAIP) director Datuk Mohamad Noor Abdul Rani’s statement that he agreed with such a punishment being carried out.
Mohamad Noor was reported as saying that JAIP agreed with the caning of the two women who pleaded guilty to same sex relations at the Kuala Terengganu Syariah High Court.
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However, he said there had not been any decision on whether to carry out the punishment in Pahang, but JAIP would look into it.
Caning is already a punishment for several offences under the state’s Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 2013, including wrongful worship, having sexual intercourse out of wedlock and consuming intoxicating drinks.
The enactment allows for caning not exceeding six strokes.
However, homosexual relations are currently not designated as an offence under the enactment.
The enactment does allow for a fine not exceeding RM1,000 or a maximum of one year’s imprisonment or both for the offence of a “man posing as a woman” and vice versa.