Muslim groups today claimed that a cartoon strip which appeared in Utusan Malaysia had insulted Islam, with one calling for action to be taken against the daily and the cartoonist implicated.

Malacca PAS Youth chief Aizat Baharuddin said through the cartoon entitled ‘Confusion on Rape Cases’, the Umno-owned daily insulted Islamic laws evidence in the matter of accusations of sexual crimes.

The cartoon, carried on page 15 of Utusan today, depicts a victim going to a religious cleric to complain of being raped.

Asked whether she has four witnesses to corroborate her claim, she said she has a recording of the crime on a handphone.

The cartoon then has the cleric dismissing such equipment as useless evidence, and advises her to drop the claim for lack of the witnesses required.

The other strip depicts the complainant making the same complaint to the police.

After asking her what proof she has of her claim, she replies she has a phone video recording, to which the officer is shown saying immediately that such evidence was sufficient for an investigation to begin.

Condemning the cartoon, Aizat said Islamic law clearly demands that four credible witnesses be produced when a person is accused of illicit sex.

“However, the cartoon dialogue showed the cartoonist not being sensitive to Islamic law but is seen to make fun of the religion.

"It seemed to show that the law of having to produce four credible witnesses cannot be used, while video evidence and pictures could be used as evidence.

"It also depicts that the religious officer as not serious and ignorant, compared to the police," said Aizat.

Strict interpretations of Islamic laws stipulate that the only evidence acceptable evidence in matters of sexual crimes in the absence of four witnesses is the confession of the accused.

Believed to related to on-going sex video saga

“I believe the caricature is related to the on-going sex video saga, and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial, both widely reported by this paper,” Aizat added. 

He said it is not surprising that Umno Youth had lodged a report after hearing a Friday sermon in Selangor entitled 'Qazaf and Slander', claiming that religion is being politicised.

It is clear, Aizat said, that they are the ones who wanted the people to remain ignorant and not wanting to know the religion better.

“This is the repercussion if Utusan Malaysia is being Umno-ised. This is not like before when there was no such political interference.

"Sadly, the cartoon is painting a picture of making the Islamic religion into a joke, by someone who is a Muslim.

"Those who work with Utusan Malaysia should think carefully over the income they gain to feed their wives and children,” said Aizat.

“I urge Utusan Malaysia to apologise to Muslims as this insult would only put Islam at a loss. Muslims are being insulted by their enemies and now we find Muslims themselves insulting Islam.”

'Charge Utusan, cartoonist'

Also weighing in on the matter, the influential Ulama Association of Malaysia (PUM) called for Utusan and the cartoonist responsible to be prosecuted for "having clearly insulted religioius scholars and Islam".

"Cartoons such as this seek to belittle the views of the ulama and give a negative impression of Islam," said PUM president Sheikh Abdul Halim Abd Kadir.

Abdul Halim also called for the state muftis to give notice to Utusan about the cartoon, while urging the National Fatwa Council to make known its stand on the matter of video evidence in accusations of a sexual nature.

"Newspapers should be used to unite and create awareness, not increase the level of conflict and disunity among Muslims."