YOURSAY ‘How is that such atrocious acts could happen in Kelantan?’

 

Gang rape proves solution is Islamic law, says PAS

 

David Dass: We must understand the psychology behind gang rape if we are to effectively deal with it.

 

Thirty-eight men are almost a community. How is it possible for 38 men to conspire to commit rape jointly? Are they all mentally deranged?

 

What is their attitude towards women that would allow them to commit such a horrible crime against a defenseless 14 year old? How were they raised?

 

We read of such rapes occurring in war, as in Bosnia and Kosovo, and in places like Pakistan and India. The punishment should be severe - the rattan and a long jail term.

 

But deterrence is another issue. Clearly these men were not thinking about the punishment.

 

The expression of moral outrage should be loud and clear. There should not be statements made about the dress or conduct of the victims. We should unambiguously condemn this awful crime.

 

Ferdtan: The recent gang rape case in Ketereh, Kelantan is proof that existing law is an ineffective deterrent and syariah criminal law is the answer, according to PAS vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

 

We don’t agree. The girl was raped by 38 men in Kelantan and this had never happened in any other states where religion does not play a large part in their daily lives beside say, Terengganu and Kedah. Why?

 

The PAS government has ruled the state for more than two decades, and 97 percent of the population in Kelantan are Muslims. They must be obviously being taught (or at least influenced) the right way (in observing the proper teaching of the religion) by PAS leaders after so many years.

 

The rakyat there are their main supporters of the religious-inclined PAS Muslim leaders, so what went wrong? The correlation does not tie up. Can it be said that the more religious the state is being run, the most hideous crimes will be committed?

 

Hudud laws will not cure this criminal disease. The only way out is education and improved economic welfare of the people. Start with that and you can see the change in this aspect.

 

These rapists are unemployed and drug addicts coming from broken homes - do they get scared with the secular law or even with your brand of hudud law? No way.

 

Quigonbond: "To those who oppose Islamic law, especially hudud, how would you feel if the one raped by those 38 men is your daughter?" asked Tuan Ibrahim.

 

Well, Tuan Ibrahim, the answer is simple - like any other human being, we will feel mad, but we will let our secular criminal justice system run its course so that those 38 scums of earth get their just desserts.

 

And if our justice system fails us because of bad governance, then by god we make sure that government falls in the next general elections.

 

By the way, we're not against Islamic criminal law. You can buy Pulau Batu Puteh from Singapore and set up your Islamic kingdom there and do whatever you like.

 

But not in a plural society like Malaysia, and not when you can only appeal to us using emotion, but not intellectual and statistical account of the success of hudud.

 

Multi Racial: Tuan Ibrahim just doesn't get it. The problem today this country is facing is not lack of law, but lack of enforcement.

 

If law enforcement officers do their job, security will be better and rape cases will be reduced.  Even for those cases where rape did happen, those responsible, justice will be served.  

 

Unfortunately, none of this happens and even if you have hudud, the same will prevail.

 

All parliamentarians should put pressure on this issue so that the relevant authorities will have to speedily address it.

 

Doc: Syariah law will certainly be good, for the rapist that is. So how often is the rape victim going to produce four men who witnessed the rape and give evidence at a syariah court.

 

In a progressive modern society, if there were four men, or even one man for that matter, witnessing a rape incident, it will be unlikely they will stand around doing nothing while the rape goes on and wait until they are called up to the syariah court to give evidence.

 

Any sane individual or individuals would have intervened by apprehending the assailants and rescuing the victim, or call the authorities for help. 

 

Paul Warren: With the Islam that is thrust on Kelantanese, you have this. With Bondi Beach and the various nudist beaches and parks, Australia does not have anything like this. Maybe Kelantan should emulate Australia.    

 

Fair Play: Tuan Ibrahim, may I ask you this question:

 

Kelantan has been ruled by PAS for many years. And no doubt PAS would have taught Muslims the virtues of being a Muslim in this Muslim-majority state.

 

How is that such atrocious acts could happen in Kelantan and how would hudud prevent such occurrence. Making sweeping statements is not going to convince others.

 

YF: Gang rape shows the religion has failed to transform its community. There are still rape cases in hudud countries and worse, it is the victims that get punished. So what's your excuse?

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .