Saturday October 3, 2009
NGOs want bodies to apologise over statement made in Kartika’s case
KUANTAN: Fourteen Islamic non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Pahang have strongly urged Sisters in Islam and the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality to retract a statement on the Syariah High Court’s decision to cane part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno.
The NGOs also demanded the two groups make a public apology to all Muslims over their remarks which were deemed as insulting Islamic law and the court that enforced the Syariah legislature.
Their spokesman Amidi Abdul Manan said the statement would bring about uneasiness and blemished the Syariah judiciary.
Amidi, who is Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia deputy president, said a police report was lodged yesterday by six of the NGOs.
‘’Everyone must accept the decision made by the Syariah High Court pertaining to Kartika,” he told a press conference held at Pahang Perkim’s office here yesterday.
Amidi said the NGOs would not rule out the possibility of filing a court order to stop the two groups from making further statements about the court’s ruling and Kartika’s case.
In a move to make the public and other NGOs understand better about Syariah laws and cases similar to Kartika’s, Amidi said a one-day seminar would be organised on Oct 25.
“It is open to the public including non-Muslims.
“We will also demonstrate how whipping is carried out according to the Syariah law which applies different techniques and procedures.
“We want them to know that sentences meted out are not only to penalise but also to make one realise one’s mistake and to learn from it,” he added.
Amidi urged the Government to be strict with any parties who challenged the sanctity of Islam as a religion and Syariah laws which had been enshrined in the Consti-tution.
On Thursday, Sisters in Islam was quoted as saying that the decision to cane Kartika for drinking beer undermined the Government’s efforts to portray Malaysia as a moderate Islamic country.
Kartika was fined RM5,000 and ordered to be caned six times after pleading guilty for drinking beer in July this year.
She committed the offence at a hotel in Cherating last year.
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