Kelantan's newly enforced syariah law covers sorcery, necrophilia, tattoos
Kelantan's Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019, which came into force yesterday, criminalises 24 new offences.
Among others, the law criminalises sorcery, falsely claiming to be a prophet, attempting to renounce Islam, necrophilia, bestiality, having tattoos, disobeying parents, gambling, under-weighing of goods, and homosexual activities.
The full list of offences, including the newly enforced 24, are as follows...
Kelantan's Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019, which came into force yesterday, criminalises 24 new offences.
Among others, the law criminalises sorcery, falsely claiming to be a prophet, attempting to renounce Islam, necrophilia, bestiality, having tattoos, disobeying parents, gambling, under-weighing goods and homosexual activities.
The full list of offences, including the newly enforced 24, are as follows:
Penalties vary according to offences. The maximum penalty is a jail term of three years, a fine of RM5,000 and six strokes of the cane.
However, Section 64 of the law allows the court the discretion to sentence offenders to a stint in a rehabilitation centre, Islamic counselling centre, charitable home or similar facilities for a period of not more than six months.
Alternatively, the court also has the discretion, under Section 65, to sentence a convict to up to 240 hours of community service.
Section 1(3)(b) of the enactment states that the law is applicable only to Muslims.
Section 4 of the law reads as follows: "Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 3(b) above, any person who is charged with an offence under this enactment who claims that he or she is not a Muslim, the status of his or her religion shall be determined in his or her general reputation, without any attempt to question the person's faith, belief, conduct, behaviour, character, action or omission."
The enactment was tabled at the state assembly in October 2019 before it was passed and eventually received royal assent on July 14, 2020, and gazetted on Dec 31, 2020.
This law replaces the Syariah Criminal Code Enactment (Kelantan) 1985.
Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob said it was aimed at educating Muslims and bringing them on the right path.
"It is hoped that the enforcement of the Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 will be beneficial in strengthening the syariah law, not only in Kelantan but also in other states in Malaysia," he said, according to Bernama yesterday.
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