Hudud is not the sole aspect of syariah as there are other priorities under the concept which must be emphasised, said Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"How do you implement any aspect of law if you don't have any independent judiciary, free media or freedom of expression?" he told a press conference in Ampang today.

Anwar was asked to elaborate about the "higher objectives" of syariah ( maqasid syariah ) and its priorities, which he touched on in his inaugural speech at the 12th International Youth gathering.

Asked if PAS is getting its syariah priorities right by pushing for hudud in Kelantan, Anwar declined to zoom in on the state, citing a lack of information from the state about the law it is planning to introduce.

"We (Pakatan Rakyat) have asked the (Kelantan) state government to send us the draft of the enactment to be able to share and discuss (but) we have not seen it.

"So, of course I am not in a position to comment beyond that," he pointed out.

However, Anwar listed several items which he said should be priorities, without being specific to the PAS-ruled state.

"If you ask me in general terms what should be our priority, our priority should be justice and order, stopping discrimination, racism and religious bigotry and of course judicial independence, etc," he said.

Earlier in his speech, Anwar condemned what he said were self-righteous individuals who killed supposedly in defense of Islam, in reference to the killings at French satire weekly Charlie Hebdo.

"Islam has survived for almost 1500 years without these self-righteous self-proclaimed defenders of the faith.

"It can certainly go on for another thousand years and more without them," he said.

'Jewish sensitivities guarded, but not Muslims''

However, Anwar said there was also no absolute freedom where people can deliberately insult religion.

He added despite France’s stand that the Charlie Hebdo attack is an assault on freedom of speech, the country imposes restrictions on such freedom when it comes to other communities.

He pointed out that France and several other European countries have made it a crime to deny the Holocaust which is punishable by jail term.

"‘Holocaust history is something very sensitive to the Jewish community. To deny that indeed is to hurt the feelings of the Jewish community – and also to deny that they were victims of genocide.

"But the question is why is it perfectly legitimate to hurt the sensitivities of Muslims by depicting their prophet or caricaturing him?" he said.

Anwar said there should be no double standards when dealing with different religions and in the same vein, this also applies to Malaysia.

"In Malaysia, we have seen how certain prominent Muslim leaders openly insult Hindus or Christians and get away with it.

"Why the double standards again?" he said, adding that liberty and responsibility were inseparable.