By Syauqi Jamil
KUALA LUMPUR: The recent caning of two women convicted of lesbian sex in Terrengganu had given a very bad impression to Islam, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Upon discussing the matter yesterday with the Cabinet, Mahathir said the Cabinet had agreed that the public caning incident did not reflect the quality of justice and consideration in Islam.
He added, as it was the first offence of such committed by the two women, it would have been more compassionate and fitting if they were to be given a warning and some advise instead.
“Cabinet finds that this does not reflect justice and consideration of Islam. We know that this is their first case and usually on the first case we should have given advise and not straight away cane them.
“This gave a bad image to the religion of Islam,” he said in a video posted on his official Facebook page today.
Mahathir said it is crucial to demonstrate that Islam is not a cruel, punishing amd humiliating religion adding that such factors are never the ways of Islam.
He expressed his hopes that the nation would be more vigilant and not potray Islam in a wrong aspect where it can be seen by others as religion that knows no compromy or to be consideration.
“Before we (Muslim) begin with anything, we always start it with ‘Bismillahirrahmanirrahim’, in the name of Allah, the most Gracious and Merciful, but then we acted as if Islam has no generosity at all,” he said.
The video came after two women who pleaded guilty for an attempt to have same-sex relations was caned six times on Monday at the Syariah High Court.
Under the Syariah enactment by virtue of the existing (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355), it allows the court to sentence the guilty to jail no more than 3 years, fine no more RM5,000 and caning no more than 6 strokes.
