Source: CNN and Reuters
A Malaysian man on Thursday won a landmark court challenge against an Islamic ban on sex “against the order of nature,” raising hopes for greater acceptance of gay rights in the mostly Muslim country.
The Muslim man in his 30s — whose name has been withheld by his lawyer to protect his privacy — filed the lawsuit after he was arrested in the central Selangor state in 2018 for attempting gay sex, which he denies.
Same-sex acts are illegal in Malaysia, although convictions are rare. The country, which has 13 states, has a dual-track legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws applicable to Muslims running alongside civil laws.
LGBT+ advocates say Islamic laws have been increasingly used to target the Southeast Asian country’s gay community, with a rise in arrests and punishments ranging from caning to jailing.
In a unanimous decision, Malaysia’s top court ruled on Thursday that the Islamic provision used in Selangor was unconstitutional and authorities had no power to enact the law.
“This is historic. This is monumental for LGBT+ rights in Malaysia,” said Numan Afifi, the founder of LGBT+ rights group Pelangi Campaign, which was not involved in the lawsuit.
Numan hoped Selangor would immediately repeal the Islamic ban, with other states following suit.
Despite the ruling, gay Malaysian men still face up to 20 years in jail under a British colonial-era law that bans gay sex, known as Section 377.
“We want to live in dignity without fear of prosecution. Of course Section 377 is still there — it’s not the end but this is a beginning,” Numan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
In Malaysia, a country of 32 million where 60% of the population is Muslim, many gay people are not open about their sexuality.
Suggested Reading by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times, for the best understanding of personal religion in the 21st century
My main suggestion to the open minded readers is to read on and in the words of Sir Francis Bacon, “Read not to contradict … but to weigh and consider.”
Islamism — the Political Islam: The Challenge for the 21st Century
Are Religions Pluralistic or Myopic and Parochial?
The Holy Quran and the Seventh Century Arabian Metaphors
I am a Jew, a Catholic, a Christian and a Muslim; I am Zia H Shah
In Defense of the Secular Narrative of the Holy Quran
We Will be Judged by Our Compassion and Deeds and Not Our Dogma
Pope Francis: Satan Is Stalking The Catholic Church
A Message of Compassion and Love from the Holy Bible
Deciding to Leave: The Last Straw that Broke a Catholic’s Back!
Why it’s so hard to hold priests accountable for sex abuse
Abou Ben Adhem, A Compassionate Man
Americans are depressed and suicidal because something is wrong with our culture
Videos: Let Joel Osteen Breathe Hope, Optimism and Success in Your Life
What Can a Quarter of Unaffiliated US Population Find in Islam?
How Islam has Influenced Christian understanding of God
World Leading Christian Apologist, William Lane Craig Always Presents God of Islam and Judaism
24 Video lectures: The Great Courses: How Jesus Became God?
Video: The most famous Christian apologist, William Lane Craig, accepts there is no Trinity in the Old Testament
Book Review: The Dark Box: A Secret History of Confession
The Concept of Justice in Islam by Sir Zafrulla Khan
‘Islamic Law’: A Myopic Reading of the Quran
Proposing Daryl Davis as a Peace Maker for Palestinians and Israel, for he attends KKK rallies, despite being black
Kripkean Dogmatism: The Best Metaphor to Understand Religious and Political Debates
Categories: Malaysia, Secularism, Sharia, Sharia Law, Shariah Law