Muslims Duel

(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) The Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party banned men from watching women athletes at the first Malaysian All-Women Games in the state of Kelantan on Saturday. Sports committee chairman Abdul Fatah Mahmood stated that the All-Women Games will show that sporting events can be held without men as spectators or supporters.

In disagreement, however, is Mufti Mohamad Asri Zainul Abidin who stated that men could watch if the women were decently dressed and the athletic activities did not arouse men.

Mahmood countered by stating that men may only attend the opening ceremony.

"They cannot attend any other events. We will monitor the exits and entrances to ensure they adhere to the ruling," he said.

It's not clear how the conflict will be resolved, if ever. And one has to wonder what the official Islamic punishment would be for the crime of watching women's sports.

Notably, Iran had a similar conflict recently when President Ahmadinejad declared that women could watch men's sporting events and, later, Ayatollah Khamenei overturned his declaration.