Two Malaysian Women convicted of engaging in lesbianism have been publicly flogged on Monday.
Both women were convicted of engaging in lesbianism (an act prohibited under Malaysian law) when they were caught attempting to have lesbian sex in a vehicle.
The Malaysian women were then sentenced to public whipping which is rare in Malaysia drawing sharp criticism from several rights groups and Malay politicians.
Both women aged 22 and 32, were given six strokes of a light rattan cane each by female prison officials while seated before several Judges.
The public flogging was witnessed by more than 100 people in an Islamic court in the conservative northeast state of Terengganu.
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Reacting to the public punishment, the deputy president of the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers’ Association, Abdul Rahim Sinwan told the press that the Malaysian women who were dressed in white headscarves and clothing did not react as the punishment was being carried out adding that the duo showed signs of ‘remorse’.
“Repentance is the ultimate aim for their sin,” he said.
Human rights groups however condemned the punishments loudly describing it as setback for human rights in Malaysia as it could worsen discrimination against people in Malaysia’s lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community.
Amnesty International released a statement saying that people should not have to live in fear because of their attraction to people of the same gender.
Both Malaysian women had pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six strokes of the cane each as well as an $800 fine apiece after being caught by officials having lesbian sex in a car park.
The conviction is considered historic because it is the first case of same sex relation being tried and also a first time public punishment is being carried out in the Malaysian public.
Malaysia is a majorly Islamic country with about two-thirds of its population being Muslims.
The country runs a dual-track justice system whereby some deeply conservative and totally Islamic regions are governed by the Islamic Sharia law and have Islamic courts and judges who preside over family, marriage as well as personal issues.