Malaysia said yesterday a caning sentence given to a Muslim model for drinking beer would be reviewed, because it was "too harsh"and may damage the nation's reputation.
Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno,32, was found guilty of drinking at a hotel nightclub and sentenced by a religious court last month, making her the first woman to face caning under Islamic law in Malaysia. She won a surprise reprieve on Monday when she was detained and then abruptly released by religious officials who had planned to take her to a jail where she was to be thrashed.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the chief judge of a state sharia appeals court had ordered the sentence to be deferred pending the review.
"The overriding view was that the sentence meted out was too harsh and is not commensurate with the offence,"she said."We are equally concerned not only for Kartika Sari, but also for the fact that this one particular case could have damaged the image of Malaysia in its fair and just implementation of the sharia law."
Prime Minister Najib Razak urged Ms Kartika yesterday to appeal the sentence,which has generated unwelcome headlines and jeopardised Malaysia's image as a moderate Muslim-majority nation.
"I believe the authorities concerned are sensitive on this matter and realise the implications of this case," he said.
"I feel the person concerned should appeal to the state authorities and not be so willing to accept the punishment."
But the mother-of-two, who has stared down religious authorities by challenging them to cane her in public, again refused and said that if the courts wanted to back down they should do so openly.
"I won't file any appeal," she said."Carry on and cane me, don't waste my time."
Ms Kartika said she had sought the advice of a judge and a religious scholar who advised her to "calm down and keep quiet for the time being".
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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