We would like to express shock and disbelief at the treatment and humiliation of retired American policeman Randal Barnhart and his wife at the hands of the religious police for alleged 'khalwat' (the crime of being in close proximity to someone of the opposite sex who is neither a spouse nor a relative) on Oct 28.

We find this an unacceptable and disgraceful way to treat the visitors to a country because it violates not only human rights, but also the basic and fundamental right of people to privacy in their own residence.

We have been informed and are appalled to find out that the privacy of Malaysian citizens - in particular Muslims - are regularly invaded in this manner. This shows that Malaysia does not seem to have any regard for human rights whatsoever.

This kind of treatment makes us wonder if Malaysia has turned into a theocratic police state where the private lives of its citizens are constantly spied upon.

We feel the practice of entering private homes at any hour without permission, on mere suspicion, violates Islamic principles of privacy and dignity. The fact that this practice is given free rein by Malaysian laws which support it is worrisome.

The Syariah Criminal Offences Act empowers the religious departments to conduct these raids without any regard for privacy. This sends the public the message that spying on each other is permissible in the name of upholding the religion

We ask the Malaysian government to repeal the Syariah Criminal Offences Act and disband the religious police to allow both Malaysian citizens and all visitors to Malaysia to live their private lives in dignity and peace.

We also ask all prospective visitors to Malaysia to boycott the Malaysian government' tourism drive by canceling all travel arrangements to Malaysia.

The writer represent Women for Women's Human Rights, Istanbul, Turkey.