Malaysia Waits to Cane Beer-Drinking Woman

(AP)  Malaysia abruptly granted a Ramadan reprieve to the first Muslim Malay woman to be sentenced to caning for drinking beer, but insisted Monday the thrashing would still take place after the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, a 32-year-old mother of two, had been en route to a women's prison for the caning when Islamic officials who took her into custody drove her back home and released her.

Mohamad Sahfri Abdul Aziz, a state legislator in charge of religious affairs, later said the Attorney General's office advised that the caning should be delayed for compassionate reasons until after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began Saturday.

"The sentence is not being canceled," Mohamad Sahfri told The Associated Press.

Amnesty International condemned the sentence, and many critics had said the caning would harm Malaysia's reputation as a moderate Muslim-majority country.

Kartika was arrested in a raid for drinking beer at a hotel lounge in December 2007 and accused of breaching Malaysia's Shariah law, which forbids Muslims from consuming alcohol.

The law provides for a three-year prison term and caning for Muslims caught drinking, but most offenders are fined. Drinking is legal for non-Muslims.

Kartika was sentenced to six strokes of a rattan cane by the Shariah court in July in what was considered a warning to other Muslims to abide by religious laws.

In an interview with the AP last week, Kartika said she wanted to be caned because "I want to respect the law."

Kartika's sister, Ratna, said Kartika was "very stressed" because of the unexpected delay.

Islamic authorities had insisted that the purpose of the caning is to educate rather than punish. They say the rattan cane supposed to be used on Kartika would be smaller and lighter than the one used for men and that she will remain clothed.

Men convicted of crimes such as rape and bribery in Malaysia are caned on their bare buttocks, breaking the skin and leaving permanent scars.

[freethnk]

Malaysia was supposed to be tolerant but in fact this is not the case at all. Beyonce cancelled her concert last year and went to Indonesia because she didn't want to abide to the middle age dressing rules of Malaysia.

Perak is an Islamic state, very close to Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia.

In support to Kartika boycott Malaysia and specially the Islamic states. South East Asia has many other wonderful places to discover, you won't miss anything by avoiding Malaysia.

[babooph]

Wow our US evangelicals must be quivering with envy at the Malays!Caning a drinking woman-what a power trip for a preacher !

[linfinster]

Love the picture of her waiving and the article quote: In an interview with the AP last week, Kartika said she wanted to be caned because "I want to respect the law."
...humph.. more like she doesn't want to be caned more or killed, if she expresses anything different ..
What a disgusting way to live.

[timing20002000]

I am open minded for everyone's belief. However, the more I hear about the Muslim and Mormon religions, the more I think that both are cult like and full or hatred.

[jxknowles]

The world according to religion and the warped minds of a few pompous, self-righteous individuals. It's like a giant game of 'Simon Says'. People could use a heavy dose of reality.

[micheleisfree]

Cavemen!

[afmcalax]

As barbaric as it sounds I would not put this type of punishment beyond the realm of many ultra-conservative evangelical Christians. The problem this time is Islam, but Christianity has a long history of similar behavior and, a lot of it, was also directed towards women. The problem is not Islam, but the issue is with organized religions. Once you have a religious structure then it is up to the leaders, usually men, to determine what is godly and what is not. Who is acceptable and who is not. Who will be the chosen and who will be the outcasts. What is to believed and what is not. I find individual pursuit of religious understanding enlightening; I find the collective pursuit demonizing and destructive. There was only 1 Christ; why are there so many religions that say they interpret his word the best? Hopefully people will think before demonizing Islam just because some of their hypocritical holy men sit in judgement.

[dumascracks]

The problem is what is happening now, not what happen 10, 100 or a 1,000 years ago. It needs to Stop now! Hillbilly Clinton answering that Question about the 20 cows an 40 goats about selling her daughters hand in Marrage, this was shame to all Woman in this World! If she thinks that this was a Joke, she should ask the Millions of woman that this has happen too if it is a Joke!!!!

[SkirtLifter]

by afmcalax August 24, 2009 1:56 PM EDT
""The problem is not Islam, but the issue is with organized religions.""
__________________
I disagree.
The issue is not with organized religion.
The problem is with State Sponsored Organized Religion.

Organized religion can prosper without tyranny if it stays out of gov't. Our forefather realized this, hence the "Separation of Church and State".

That goes back to you saying, and I quote, "The problem is not Islam,..."
I disagree.
Islam exists, fundamentally, as a form of theocracy. A gov't run by religion. It seems to always end up this way. The problem with theocracy is that tyranny can run rampant, and does, as history displays.

I will stand by the hypothesis that:

In all instances where a gov't leader, or leaders, believe they are sponsored by God, then those whom are governed, are doomed to oppression and peasantry.

I believe this to be true unless someone can show this to be false.

[mjvwsr]

the peace loving, compasionate, serene religion of islam

[docpeter1953]

Can't never tell, maybe she, Kartika, is into S&M.

A little caning and she will be really turned on and "forget" about other Islamic rules and get a little extra caning.

[johnlopez649]

its not the religion its the male dominated societies interpretation of islam that's the problem. Control, neanderthal thinking and violence.........

[SkirtLifter]

How many whacks for bribery?
How many whacks for rape?

I bet less for rape, unless you rape a goat.

[ToolMangler1]

They get stoned to death for adultery. and Beaten for showing skin

[Illuminated1]

Barbarians....