Terengganu Govt Firm On Public Caning Despite Criticism

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The public caning of a khalwat offender will take place at Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Mosque in Kuala Terengganu tomorrow. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Terengganu government is committed to conducting a public caning of a man convicted by the shariah court for khalwat tomorrow, despite widespread criticism.
Information, propagation and shariah empowerment committee chairman Khalil Abdul Hadi said it demonstrates the state government’s commitment to strengthening shariah laws in Terengganu.
He said the punishment aims not only at penalising the offender but also at educating the community in accordance with the principles of maqasid shariah (objectives of Islamic law).
“We acknowledge that there are objections from various quarters, but the state government remains committed to enforcing this punishment.
“Despite the criticism, we believe this measure is the right step to enhance shariah laws which, until now, have only been enforced in prisons,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying at Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Mosque, where he inspected final preparations for the caning and received briefings from the court, police, and prisons department officials.
Khalil expressed satisfaction with the preparations which ensure the punishment will be carried out properly and in an orderly manner.
Yesterday, it was reported that about 40 police officers and personnel will be deployed at the mosque to maintain security and ensure the smooth execution of the sentence.
Kuala Terengganu police chief Azli Noor said those attending Friday prayers at the mosque would be advised to leave immediately after completing their prayers, Bernama reported.
Azli reminded the public not to gather outside or around the mosque as it could disrupt the smooth execution of the sentence.
Affendi Awang, 42, will become the first individual in Terengganu to be publicly caned. He will be given six strokes of the rotan.
The planned punishment has drawn criticism from various groups, including the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), which accused the Terengganu shariah court of overstepping its jurisdiction.
Similarly, G25, a group of prominent retired civil servants, has warned that public caning contravenes both federal and shariah laws. - FMT

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