Kartika Wants Caning Sentence To Be Carried OutMalaysian model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno who was sentenced to a fine and 6 strokes of the cane under Syariah law for drinking alcohol in public is all set to go through the caning after the end of Ramadan. Apparently feeling the stress of having too many meetings and various advices from individuals, politicians, government organisations and non-governmental organisations, she has decided that she just want to get over the whole thing quickly. Her family, it seems, has also been visited by these same people. Now Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno has decided that enough is enough, and she issued a statement to this effect through a law firm. “As such, I give notice that I do not want to be disturbed by any individual, politician, government organisation and non-governmental organisation and any meeting that has, is and will be planned, and any communication with me and my family should be stopped immediately.” Then to emphasize the seriousness of her intention, she added that she would take legal action against anyone that disturb her peace and that of her family members. The caning sentence has divided Malaysians, with several Government officials, including Ministers, and both current and past Prime Ministers saying it is too harsh. The caning sentence is now under judicial review, and any decision to proceed with caning Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno will take place after the end of the current Ramadan holy month. Recently, the same Islamic court sentenced odd-job worker Nazarudin Kamaruddin to six strokes of the cane and one year’s imprisonment for the same offense of drinking alcohol in public. The case involving Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno differs from that involving Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein in Sudan. Kartika admitted her offense, was sentenced to a fine (which she paid) and 6 lashes of the cane. Lubna did not admit her offense of indecent dressing, was sentenced to a fine or in default, a jail term. She chose to go to jail, but was released when a third party paid the fine against her wishes. The court in Sudan had the advantage of hearing the protests of many groups against caning, and chose not to impose a caning sentence. The Islamic court in Malaysia however imposed that caning sentence. Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno has refused to appeal that caning sentence. So how will the case turn out in the end? It will be interesting to watch the twists and turns of this case. Earlier posts Caning A Woman Under Syariah Law 2 comments to Kartika Wants Caning Sentence To Be Carried Out |
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Angela is right in that caning a woman under Syariah laws is different from caning under Federal laws. Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said: “There was little force involved and it was not going to inflict pain, not even like the caning carried out in schools in those days”. This is the point made in one of the earlier postings that I have read.
Let’s put this in perspective:
1. The caning as it applies in this case comes under Malaysian Syariah Court laws — the Islamic courts that watch over Muslim citizens, so to speak. This is not the same as corporal punishment caning, which is administered by Federal courts. The difference between the two punishments is simple: one is meant to cause pain, while the other is meant to humiliate. The description of the cane here is the cane used in corporal punishment. The cane used in Syariah caning is little more than a stick, and the actual caning itself is little more than a flick of the wrist rather than a full-out whip. As I said, the intention here is to humiliate the offender, rather than cause him or her pain.
2. Under the aforesaid Syariah laws, Muslims may not consume alcohol. Regular laws could not care less, however. Malaysia is a clubbing paradise.
Kartika is simply unlucky enough to be a minor celebrity that the powers that be have decided to use as a case study to deter other potential offenders.