A Muslim woman was recently sentenced to 5 strokes of the rotan (caning) for consuming alcohol – Beer at a holiday resort.
This sentence was meted out by the Syariah Court of Malaysia (Admin note: The sentence was meted out by the Syariah High Court of Pahang. The administration of Syariah law in Malaysia is within the jurisdiction of the constituent states of the Federation). Many have come out to speak against it.
My stand is that this is the law of Islam. The Syariah Court acted and sentenced within their jurisdiction. Whether or not there is elements of hypocrisy or not is not for us non-Muslims to say.
Here are some Malaysiakini letters in response:
JC Tansen: It is extremely disturbing to learn that a court in Malaysia has sentenced a woman and mother to two young children to six strokes of whipping and a fine of RM5,000 for drinking beer.
I appeal to the authorities to reconsider this decision and waive this cruel punishment. This will not only show deserving mercy to the remorseful woman but also help to project an image of Malaysia as a civilised and decent country.
Thomas Nathan: What a big joke! If you were to go to KL or any of the big cities you will find lots of Muslims not only consuming liquor but also committing close proximity under syariah law. Most of them are renowned personalities or their children. Even police officers’ children consume liquor and drugs (now called designer drugs) in such places but the religious authorities “close one eye” or just do not dare to disturb them lest they get chided for doing so.
What about Nazri son’s whose photos were all over the net with liquor on one hand and a scantily-dressed woman on the other. This is height of hypocrisy and double standards by the authorities.
Pagan: Caning/whipping is a horrible experience that should be implemented on serious offenders such as rapists, drug traffickers, murderers for the purpose of punishment, warning and humiliation. Therefore, I read with abhorrence that a woman is sentence for five strokes of whipping for consuming alcohol!
Religious teaching is meant to be a platform to develop one’s spirituality, and everyone should have the freedom of choice to follow any religion that benefits them. Certainly no religious group should have any power to decide caning a woman for this. What good is secular law then?
Most of us are influenced by the Judaic-Christian thinking of mercy and grace upon a wrongdoing especially upon a repentant person.
However, even the Bible speaks of a certain wrath and punishment upon the sinner. Most of us agree that God is not like us and is Holy. Well for being Holy, it also means He cannot tolerate Sin. Sin is anything that is not Holy. The Bible teaches us that man is naturally sinful and left to himself or herself would naturally tend towards selfishness and in short rebel against God
The idea of Grace and Mercy comes when that punishment with which we were suppose to receive was meted out upon His Son; Jesus Christ. That is why in the Bible it says that; Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for all our sin.
The best analogy to this is if now somebody; like Kartini’s father would come and say punish me instead and let Kartini be forgiven of her sins – this is where Justice is fulfilled through Grace and Mercy.
Originally published in Meng’s Blog. Republished with permission from author.
August 31st, 2009 at 5:56 am
Personally I feel that in a plural society like ours, it is impractical and unrealistic to expect that a set of customs and laws that theoretically only has jurisdiction over a particular community will not impact the larger community as a whole.
One notable case in point would be the restriction of usage on certain phrases that has the authority of law via the various Syariah enactments but directly impacts other communities like Christians and Sikhs.
The challenge would be for us to find a workable solution to be able to discuss and debate such matters without fear of further persecution and / or harassment.
OTOH, you did give very good food for thought with your analogy. Would someone take Kartini’s punishment on her behalf? And would such an act absolve Kartini of the offence in the eyes of the law?