Keadilan Wanita wants PAS to review hudud bill's rape provisions

comments     Susan Loone     Published     Updated

Keadilan Wanita submitted a memorandum to Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang today calling for a review of several clauses in the state Syariah Criminal Enactment ( hudud ) that discriminate women.

The seven-page memorandum urged the PAS-led government to fully explain to the people the proposed enactment before it is gazetted.

Any implementation of the controversial Islamic law, the memorandum added, must consider the domestic and international political scenario to avoid projecting a negative image of the religion.

Keadilan Wanita chief Fuziah Salleh led a 10-member delegation to meet with Abdul Hadi at his office in Kuala Terengganu for 90 minutes this afternoon. She described the dialogue with the state chief as "fruitful".

"Hadi is willing to meet with women groups who oppose the enactment and has given us the mandate to lead the team," Fuziah told malaysiakini .

"He also said the state government will take the proposed amendments seriously," she added.

Keadilan Wanita and women groups in other political parties have publicly appealed to the state government to review the proposed bill on hudud and qisas (revenge crime restitution) .

PAS and Keadilan organised a seminar in Terengganu last month to gather feedback on the controversial bill. As a result of widespread opposition, the state government decide to delay the tabling of the bill until later in the year.

Only male witnesses

The proposed amendments include provisions which shift the burden of proof from the rape victim to the perpetrator, thus discriminating women.

According to the proposed provisions, a woman can be charged for slanderous accusations if she were unable to provide witnesses to prove the rape.

The law is also criticised for only allowing Muslim men who are aqil baligh (come of age) and adil (fair) as witnesses.

Women and Family Development Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil has joined in the fray, calling on all women to unite and reject the law.

Meanwhile, DAP Wanita secretary and Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok said the Terengganu government should immediately withdraw the proposed enactment and apologise to Malaysians for such "insensitive and cruel intentions".

"[The move is with the intention] to regain their — Umno and PAS — respective ground, which directly jeopardises the texture of Malaysian plural society," she added.



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