Malaysia delays caning of woman who drank beer

[phk]

Malaysia delays caning of woman who drank beer

  By MARK D. BAKER, Associated Press Writer Mark D. Baker, Associated Press Writer   – 38 mins ago

KARAI, Malaysia – Malaysia abruptly granted a Ramadan reprieve to the first Muslim Malay woman to be sentenced to caning for drinking beer, but insisted Monday the thrashing would still take place after the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, a 32-year-old mother of two, had been en route to a women's prison for the caning when Islamic officials who took her into custody drove her back home and released her.

Mohamad Sahfri Abdul Aziz, a state legislator in charge of religious affairs, later said the Attorney General's office advised that the caning should be delayed for compassionate reasons until after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began Saturday.

"The sentence is not being canceled," Mohamad Sahfri told The Associated Press.

Amnesty International condemned the sentence, and many critics had said the caning would harm Malaysia's reputation as a moderate Muslim-majority country.

Kartika was arrested in a raid for drinking beer at a hotel lounge in December 2007 and accused of breaching Malaysia's Shariah law, which forbids Muslims from consuming alcohol.

The law provides for a three-year prison term and caning for Muslims caught drinking, but most offenders are fined. Drinking is legal for non-Muslims.

Kartika was sentenced to six strokes of a rattan cane by the Shariah court in July in what was considered a warning to other Muslims to abide by religious laws.

In an interview with the AP last week, Kartika said she wanted to be caned because "I want to respect the law."

Kartika's sister, Ratna, said Kartika was "very stressed" because of the unexpected delay.

Islamic authorities had insisted that the purpose of the caning is to educate rather than punish. They say the rattan cane supposed to be used on Kartika would be smaller and lighter than the one used for men and that she will remain clothed.

Men convicted of crimes such as rape and bribery in Malaysia are caned on their bare buttocks, breaking the skin and leaving permanent scars.

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Associated Press writer Sean Yoong in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.

[GMantis]

This is a moderate muslim country.

[Stranger in a strange land]

This is a moderate muslim country.

To be fair, I think most people were disabused of that notion by Mahatir's "Jews rule the world by proxy" speech.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

If she drank any of the american "lite" beers, she should be caned

[Franzl]

If she drank any of the american "lite" beers, she should be caned

Amen. Of course that's true for most mainstream American beers. America has some truly great beer from smaller breweries, particularly in New England, though.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

This makes me feel like throwing some empty beer bottles at a mosque nearby.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Malaysia really wants to be considered a joke country, doesn't it?

[GMantis]

     Malaysia really wants to be considered a joke country, doesn't it?

No, it wants to be part of the international community. Of course, the "international community" which the current Malaysian government looks up to is led by Saudi Arabia...
Of course, this is a worldwide process - Islamic Globalization, so to speak. A process encouraged and financed by Saudi Arabia, which won't rest until the entire Muslim world  looks like this:

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

GMantis is correct. We can look forward to this in Kosovo in 10 years.

[Хahar 🤔]

GMantis is correct. We can look forward to this in Kosovo in 10 years.

No.

[GMantis]

GMantis is correct. We can look forward to this in Kosovo in 10 years.

No.

Perhaps not, but things are clearly heading in this direction. In my country, which has only about 10% Muslims, under the influence of Saudi Arabian emissaries, there is already a growing trend of ever more fundamentalist Islam. It's probably even worse in Kosovo, where Muslims are dominant.

[Хahar 🤔]

This is because Bulgaria is not a Muslim country. Muslim governments are by and large unfriendly to the King of Saud.

[GMantis]

This is because Bulgaria is not a Muslim country. Muslim governments are by and large unfriendly to the King of Saud.

Even when he's building them mosques and Muslim schools for free and helps with the education of the clergy (not to mention other financial aid: http://insidethegulf.com/central.php?o=2&s=2093&d=3&i=2521)? Because that's what he's doing and for many poor Muslim countries this, combined with Saudi Arabia's status as guardian of the holy cities brings them a great deal of influence, regardless of the government's attitude. Why do you think Wahhabism is growing all over the Muslim world?