Model Caning Case – Latest DevelopmentsFor the past week, Malaysian model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno who was sentenced to 6 strokes of the cane for drinking alcohol in public was staring eyeball to eyeball with the authorities, asking for the sentence to be carried out in public. Now, in the latest development to the model caning case, it was the Malaysian authorities that blinked first. Kartika could not have anticipated this, but she has now got Malaysian Prime Minister commenting on her case. Besides him, former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also waded into this case, as has his daughter Marina Mahathir. Malaysia’s image as a moderate Muslim country is taking a hit. First off, elder statesman and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wrote in his blog: “We will be celebrating our independence this year by flogging a Muslim woman for drinking beer under Syariah law.” Calling the caning sentence “too harsh”, Dr Mahathir said that fairness and consideration were the main tenents in Islam. He added: “Is not Islam merciful to first-time offenders?” Added daughter Marina Mahathir: “It is pretty embarrassing. The Qur’an is clear that alcohol is prohibited but it does not impose a punishment.” Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that the syariah court must dispense justice with compassion and fairness in upholding the principles of Islam. Then signalling that the case could be dismissed on appeal he said: “I feel the person concerned should appeal to the state authorities and not be so willing to accept the punishment.” Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin also signaled a possible end to this saga when he said that the country did not have the expertise to cane women under Syariah laws as this was the first time such case arose in Malaysia. But Kartika has no intention of appealing: “I won’t file any appeal. Carry on and cane me, don’t waste my time.” She is basically telling the authorities that if they want to release her to just say so. But getting a reprieve is not everybody’s idea. Commenting on the case, Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria said it should have been 80 lashes instead of six. ‘So if it is only six, what is the need for all the hue and cry?’ Think about it. Is Marina Mahathir right in that caning a woman for drinking alcohol is not provided for under Syariah law? If so, how can there be so much confusion over this matter? Is Islam based on fairness, compassion and consideration as stated by Dr Mahathir and Datuk Najib? If so, why is the Perak Mufti saying the opposite by his comments? Related posts: To Cane Or Not? 1 comment to Model Caning Case – Latest Developments |
||
|
Copyright © 2010 A BIG MESSAGE for an upside down world - All Rights Reserved |
||
‘Caning for repent’, ‘Caning to deter’, ‘Caning to educate’, ‘Caning to teach’.
Repent – ‘Oh Syariah court please punish me for I have sins, Pls cane me for I repent.’ How certain are we that an offender has fully repent? To an alcoholic if the caning is just a symbol, I believe that it defeats the purpose. Just look at drug addicts, to be caned but yet the offence is done over and over again. Moreover, in Islam that is such a thing as ‘Sembahyang Taubat’ or Repent prayer whereby an offender feel disgrace in the eyes of Allah and he/she will perform it and not do it again. If Kartika had performed such prayers, can any mortal questioned her repentance? Or if only the caning is done will society believe that she had repented.
Deter – Why should caning for deter be done to symbolise it? To deter starts from society. ‘Sale of tobacco under 18 is prohibited’. Is there a sign mentioning that ‘Sale of alcohol to Muslim is prohibited’? Deterance is an act of community and is not a punishment.
Educate – The consuming of alcohol is prohibited when someone commits slander during the time of the prophet. The offender had cause a public nuisance and as such it has to be banned. The man was punish to educate the offender and the whole community. Yet again how is caning of Kartika symbolises caning to educate? She has been a Muslim for the past 32 years and has been educated by the Islamic society around her. Is Kartika knowledge on Islam really shallow? Is the society around her to be blamed? During the prophet time, Islam is at his peak and an offender is punish for drinking alcohol to educate is valid as perhaps he is new to Islam.
Teach – To teach a Muslim by caning is harsh be it a symbolic caning. How much can we teach? A child can be cane by the parents so as to teach him/her the right and wrong. What about an adult? Should an adult Muslim be caned if he ignores the Friday prayers?
SHould this whipping be done in public? So as to get the message to Islamic community? By not whipping we are all aware that Kartika’s sins has tarnish her family’s name all over Asia and now the world. She has given the message to all. Should society disgraced her further? Is that an Islamic faith? Is that what we want to reflect about Islam?