Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno's acceptance of the whipping sentence shows that she is willing to obey Allah's command and uphold justice, said International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM)’s assistant professor Dr Badruddin Ibrahim, who is head of the Islamic Law Department.

He said in Islam, the consumption of liquor is an offence which should not be disputed, adding the whipping sentence on offenders should not be questioned.

As such, all parties should respect the Kuantan Syariah High Court’s decision as it was made free from outside interference.

"The court's whipping sentence is based on the law and can't be questioned and those who dispute it should be charged for insulting the court," he told a press conference here today.

NONE Part-time model Kartika, 32, had said she accepted the whipping sentence and wanted it to be implemented as soon as possible.

Badruddin said implementation of the whipping sentence was not against international laws and a form of discrimination against women.

Islamic law applies to all irrespective of gender and was humane as the offender's condition and other factors were also considered.

"Whipping is not a form of torture or cruel, inhuman and a derogatory sentence.

"It is not against the Convention on the Elimination Of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) of which Malaysia is a member, or other conventions which do not bound Malaysia including the Human Rights Declaration 1984, the WAAD Conference on Civil and Political Rights 1966 and the Convention Against Torture or other cruel, inhuman and derogatory sentences," he said.

On accusations that the whipping sentence was against individual freedom, Badruddin said in Islam, human rights should be interpreted in accordance with Islamic needs.

He said individual rights should be balanced with the rights of society which needs security and peace.

Badruddin said whipping under the Syariah Criminal Procedure Enactment was different than the whipping implemented by the civil courts.

It was done using moderate force as the hand must not be over the head so as not to injure the skin while the offender was fully clothed.

‘Religion is about faith’

Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Kamal, also lecturer at IIUM also agreed as in Islam, human rights were enshrined in the Al-Quran and had been implemented since the time of Prophet Muhammad.

"Why can't we look at what Prophet Muhammad had done rather than glorifying the human rights created by Westerners?

Fellow lecturer Dr Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz said those who argued on human rights did not understand Islam and Islamic laws.

“Non-Muslims or those who do not understand Islamic laws should just shut up. Religion is about faith. We won't keep quiet if non-Muslims continue to talk about our faith,” she said.

On July 20, Kartika was fined RM5,000 and whipped six strokes of rotan for consuming liquor at a hotel in Cherating on July 11, 2008.

She was charged under Section 136 of the Pahang Islamic Administration and Malay Customs Enactment which carries the maximum RM5,000 fine or jailed not more than three years or both and to be whipped six times.

Whipping which had been scheduled for Aug 24 was postponed as a mark of respect for Ramadan.

- Bernama