On Friday, a man in Malaysia was publicly flogged inside a mosque after being found guilty of an Islamic offense for being alone with a woman who was neither his wife nor a relative, according to a report from the state news agency. The punishment occurred in Terengganu, a conservative state in Malaysia, where Sharia law is enforced in certain cases for Muslim citizens.
The man, a 42-year-old construction worker, received six lashes following his conviction by a Sharia court for violating Islamic law. The offense, known as “khalwat,” refers to close proximity or intimacy between an unmarried man and woman. This incident marked a significant precedent, as it was the first time a Sharia court-ordered flogging was carried out in a mosque rather than a courtroom, the Bernama news agency reported.
The flogging took place in the mosque after Friday prayers and was witnessed by around 90 people. According to an AFP journalist present at the scene, the man was brought to the mosque in a prison van, wearing an orange jumpsuit commonly associated with inmates. He entered the mosque before a silent crowd to face his punishment.
The caning was administered on the man’s fully clothed body, as is customary in such cases. Critics of the punishment argue that its purpose is not only to cause physical pain but also to humiliate the recipient in a public setting. The punishment of flogging for Islamic offenses remains rare but not unprecedented in Malaysia.
This instance has reignited debates surrounding the appropriateness of physical and public punishments in Malaysia’s dual-track legal system, which allows Islamic courts to adjudicate certain matters for Muslim citizens. Earlier in the week, the Malaysian Bar Association expressed serious concerns about the flogging. In a statement, the association condemned such punishments, arguing that they “strip individuals of their dignity” and are inconsistent with modern justice systems.
In contrast, some local residents supported the action, viewing it as a deterrent against immoral behavior. One spectator, Mohd Sabri Muhammad, expressed his hope that the punishment would discourage others from engaging in inappropriate conduct, particularly during occasions like Valentine’s Day or New Year’s celebrations.
However, human rights organizations have strongly criticized the practice. The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia recently stated that punishments involving physical violence and public humiliation have no place in contemporary justice systems. The Commission emphasized the need for more humane approaches to upholding religious laws and promoting moral behavior.
In a similar case in 2018, two women in Malaysia were publicly flogged in front of over 100 spectators after being convicted of violating Islamic laws by engaging in same-sex relations. These incidents highlight the ongoing tension between traditional religious practices and calls for reform in Malaysia’s justice system.
