Sunday, November 09, 2008
An Edict In Destiny
News of Malaysia’s National Fatwa Council’s latest edict banning "tomboys"
in the Muslim-majority country has reverberated worldwide.
"The National Fatwa Council is the top Islamic council in the country and under
the purview of the Department of Islamic Advancement of Malaysia, JAKIM.
Media reports have quoted that the National Fatwa Council has banned girls or
women behaving or dressing like boys or men, following a meeting last Thursday
in northern Malaysia.
Harussani clarified that although the council's ruling was not legally binding,
tomboys should be banned because their actions are immoral.
Same-sex relations between men is illegal in Malaysia under Section 377 of
the Penal Code and punishable with up to twenty years in jail.
The Telegraph further added that although there is no provision banning lesbian
sex in Malaysia's civil code, the latest fatwa appears to be an attempt to push
lesbianism towards illegality.
Islamic authorities in Malaysia frequently issue guidelines;
with regards to what women should or should not wear.
In June, authorities in a northern Malaysian city of Kota Baru have forbidden
Muslim women from wearing bright lipstick and noisy high-heeled shoes.
Saying the directive is intended to prevent sexual assaults and "illicit sex."
Kota Baru, the capital of Kelantan state, which is ruled by the hard-line
opposition party PAS, also issued a directive calling for Muslim women to wear
non-transparent headscarves that cover the chest, long-sleeved and loose blouses and socks. Those who flout the guidelines can be fined up to RM500 (U$153)."This is just unacceptable I guess.
I know that there's a reason as to why they are doing this.
But somehow it's against Human Rights.
What saddens the most is this same country is not addressing the high and
ever-increasing number of woman and girls being raped almost daily.
Another example, crimes such as robberies and murders.
Yet here they are addressing the issues that harms no one, and cause no pain
and suffering to those who chose to dress as a man or a woman.
I can't help to think this, albeit in a funny way, that perhaps to avoid being
targeted by the rapist, the girls there are dressing up as boys.
However, that's not the case here, in Singapore.
ready for love at 2:25 AM.