Day: July 15, 2017

As Aceh reconsiders, Kelantan ‘moves forward’ with public caning

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News

Pic drawn from FMT News

PETALING JAYA: The news about the Kelantan government allowing public caning, has made it to the New York Times with a report about how even the provincial government of Aceh in Indonesia is now reconsidering their current policy of allowing public caning.

In a report yesterday, NYT quoted an Indonesian media interview with the province’s vice-governor Nova Iriansyah, who said that Indonesian president Joko Widodo had met with the newly-inaugurated Aceh governor Irwandi Yusuf to discuss ways to improve the province’s international image.

This followed the negative publicity the region and Indonesia received when news of the public caning meted out to two young gay men for having sex with each other hit international headlines. Read more →

Lawyer, activists slam pre-execution photoshoot

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News

Petaling Jaya: N Surendran has slammed the practice in Singapore which has death-row inmates take part in a photoshoot “a day or two” before they are sent to the gallows, labelling it “inhumane”.

The lawyer who represented the family of S Prabagaran, the Malaysian who was hanged in Singaporefor drug trafficking, also said the act was morbid.

“It shows the harshness of Singaporean authorities to treat a person like that. They (death-row inmates) are not dolls,” he told FMT.

He was asked to comment on a tweet by We Believe in Second Chances co-founder Kirsten Han who uploaded a picture of a smiling Prabagaran.

“This was taken of Prabagaran this week as part of the pre-execution prison photoshoot. Photos are then given to the family,” she wrote. Read more →

‘Prabagaran maintained his innocence until the end’

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News

PETALING JAYA: S. Prabagaran, who was executed in Singapore on Friday for drug trafficking, accepted his fate but maintained his innocence until the end.

The 29-year-old Malaysian, who is from Johor Baru, was hanged to death at the Changi Prison yesterday and was cremated at the Mandai crematorium in Singapore.

We Believe in Second Chances co-founder Kirsten Han said those who were with him said he was jovial and joking with the prison guards even during the approaching hours of the execution.

“Prabagaran always told his cousin that he was innocent but that he accepted his fate,” The Star quoted Han as saying. Read more →

Sabah Syariah Court records 3 open whipping sentences

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: The Borneo Post Online

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Syariah Court recorded five cases involving whipping sentence since 2011.

The cases included three open whipping sentence for the offence of illegal sexual intercourse (zina).

State Syariah Chief Justice Datuk Jasri @ Nasip Matjakir said the three cases of open whipping sentence were from Tawau Syariah Court in 2014 and 2016 and were held in the courtroom.

“The 2014 case which involved a woman, was supposed to be held in Tawau prison. However, the offender was only punished with whippings, so it could not be done in the prison area. The whipping sentence is done at the request of the offender.

“Hence, the prison’s side recommended for the sentence to be exercised in the open court. Read more →

Jamil Khir: Public caning means more than two observers in Islam

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source:The Malay Mail Online

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — Minister in charge of Islamic affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom sought to put a lid on the controversy surrounding Kelantan’s move to allow public caning for Shariah offenders this week.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the whipping penalty carried out in prison can actually be deemed to be public caning in Islam, which only requires more than two observers, national news agency Bernama reported today.

“In prison there are already more than two people including the doctor who is there to observe, the religious [enforcement] officer, the offender’s escort and others on duty,” he was quoted telling reporters in Guar Chempedak, Kedah after officiating the Jerai Umno Youth delegates meeting there. Read more →

Report: Pahang mufti mulls public caning too if Kelantan succeeds

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: The Malay Mail Online

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 ― Pahang could also implement public caning for Shariah offences if it is shown to be effective in Kelantan.

Pahang mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Osman said the state will observe how Kelantan enforces public caning on Shariah offenders first, news portal Malaysiakinireported today.

“We will discuss it first. Perhaps, in future, after observing the developments in Kelantan on whether it is effective or not, then perhaps it can be (implemented in Pahang).

“If it has a big impact and can stop Muslims from gambling and make them become better people,” he was quoted as saying. Read more →