Kartika Caning – Battle Line Drawn

The saga revolving around the caning sentence of Malaysian model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno for drinking alcohol is getting more intriguing.  Advocacy group Sisters In Islam earlier filed an application for the revision of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno’s caning sentence, and a stay of execution pending the outcome of the application.

However the Appeals Panel of the Syariah High Court ruled that the caning sentence should proceed before they even consider the application by Sisters In Islam.  Now it transpired that this application is not even going to be heard by a Syariah Court judge at all.

Sisters In Islam has been told that the Assistant Registrar of the Syariah High Court has rejected the application filing and has returned all filed documents to the lawyer acting for Sisters In Islam.

Sisters In Islam was understandably upset.  It described this development as “unprecedented”, adding that “all applications filed and duly paid must be accepted and heard by the court.”  Expanding further, its statement said: “Further, the court has no right to filter any applications. Rejecting the applications at the filing stage tantamount to denying the right of a party to be heard, and in this case, denying Sisters In Islam the right to be heard.”

This latest saga has polarized Muslims into 2 camps – those for and those against caning Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno.  Now 14 Muslim NGOs have lodged a police report against various other NGOs for insulting Islamic law and the Syariah Court through their persistent questioning of, and attempts at rescinding, the caning sentence imposed on Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno .

Amidi Abdul Manan, spokeman for the 14 Muslim NGOs said that they want these other interfering NGOs, including Sisters InIslam and the Joint Action Group Against Violence Against Women, to retract their statements and to tender open apologies for their action. He also said that the 14 Muslim NGOs would file an injunction to stop others from questioning the decision made by the Syariah High Court.

Amidi Abdul Manan then said: “We will also hold a seminar on the matter and have a demonstration of how syariah caning is performed with the help of the relevant authorities.”  This seminar has been fixed for October 25 at the state Islamic Religious Department and is open to the public, including NGOs and non-Muslims.

The 14 Muslim NGOs include the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim), Jemaah Islah Malaysia Pahang, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia Pahang, Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association and the Islamic Welfare Organisation. Ami Abdul Manan is also the deputy president of Abim.

Think about it.  Why are Muslims fighting Muslims over this caning case of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno? What is at stake here? And what are the consequences for Muslims in Malaysia and for the country if one or the other group emerges victorious?

Earlier posts:

Kartika’s Caning – Sisters In Islam Explains Intervention
Kartika’s Caning – Sisters In Islam Intervenes
Kartika Case – Caning Sentence Upheld
Model Caning Case – Malaysian Prison Authorities Ready To Cane
To Cane Or Not?
Who Is Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno?