Fourteen Muslim non-government organisations (NGO) have taken the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) and Sisters in Islam (SIS) to task for describing the Islamic whipping sentence on a part-time model as unacceptable and too severe.

The Pahang Muslim NGOs want JAG and SIS to retract the statements and apologise to Muslims in the country, said Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) deputy president Amidi Abdul Manan on their behalf.

"The Pahang Islamic Administration and Malay Custom Act 1982 (Amendment 1987), which is under the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court, was assented by the Sultan of Pahang.

"Insulting the syariah law can be deemed as insulting the Sultan of Pahang. We also call on devotees of other religions not to interfere in Islamic affairs," he told reporters in Kuantan today.

JAG and SIS, on Wednesday, said the decision to whip part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno for drinking beer was a torture, a breach of human rights and dehumanising.

Declaration sought

Amidi said the NGOs would seek a declaration to stop JAG and SIS from making further derogatory remarks on syariah penalties.

"We fully support the sentence and the stand taken by Kartika Sari Dewi and her family to accept the punishment.

"We had also lodged a police report against JAG and SIS for insulting Islam at the Kuantan police district headquarters today," he said.

Amidi said the Muslim NGOs would organise a seminar on the Islamic caning sentence at the Pahang Islamic Department on Oct 25 here, during a which a demonstration on the punishment would be conducted.

- Bernama