Sharia Punishment of Non-Muslims

(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) In a country where sharia law is imposed on the Muslim majority through morality police and sharia courts, a conflict exists regarding what to do about non-Muslims who commit moral offenses.

In particular, the offense of khalwat (close proximity) is being committed by non-Muslims without punishment. They can only be harrassed by the morality officers.

Khalwat is when non-muhrim (Muhrim = married or relative) persons of opposite gender are in isolation (behind closed doors) together.

It is a legal offence and MUSLIMS (including foreigners) can be charged in the Malaysian Syariah court. Might be punishable up to 6 months in prison.

Non-Muslims cannot be charged in the Malaysian Syariah court, but these religious department officers are allowed to disturb you and to check, if you are really not a Muslim...at 11PM in your hotel room ...

To resolve the inconsistency, a seminar on sharia law has proposed that non-Muslims be arrested and prosecuted in civil courts for committing khalwat.

However, there is opposition. According to the President of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism, Datuk A. Vaithilingam, the proposal is contrary to the Malaysian Constitution which specifies separation between civil and sharia courts.

Vaithilingam also said this was tantamount to depriving non-Muslims of their rights.

Federation of Taoist Associations Malaysia president Tan Bon Sin said in a statement it vehemently objected to the proposal, as it was an affront to the Taoist community's way of life.

"It is an implied way of imposing Syariah law on the non-Muslim communities in Malaysia," he said.

Malaysian Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan said in a statement that the proposal is tantamount to imposing Islamic law on non-Muslims.

So, there you go. Incremental sharia being imposed on non-Muslims, coming soon to a community near you.

Also: Jawa Report