Nigerians React As Man Receives Lashes Inside Mosque For Being Alone With Unrelated Woman

A 42-year-old man in Malaysia was flogged inside a mosque after being found guilty of an Islamic offence for spending time alone with a woman who was neither his wife nor a relative.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The construction worker received six lashes in Terengganu on Friday following a Sharia court conviction, as reported by the official Bernama news agency. This marks the first instance in Malaysia where Sharia court-ordered flogging occurred outside a courtroom.

An AFP journalist reported that the man was transported to the mosque in a prison van after Friday prayers. Dressed in an orange inmate jumpsuit, he entered the mosque before an audience of approximately 90 people.

The caning, carried out as punishment for the Islamic offence known as “Khalwat,” was conducted in silence. Attendees observed the sentence, which the authorities hope will serve as a deterrent to similar acts.

The Malaysian Bar Association had earlier voiced strong opposition to the punishment, stating, “Such punishments strip individuals of their dignity.”

However, one spectator, Mohd Sabri Muhammad, expressed support, stating that it might deter others from engaging in immoral acts. “Occasions like Valentine’s Day and New Year’s give opportunities for inappropriate behavior,” the 37-year-old told AFP.

Malaysia, a multi-ethnic nation, operates a dual-track legal system, with Islamic courts managing certain issues for Muslim citizens. Under Sharia law, caning is carried out on clothed individuals and is criticized for its intent to humiliate and inflict pain.

Although rare, Sharia court-ordered caning is not unprecedented in Malaysia. In 2018, two women were publicly caned for breaching religious laws after being convicted of engaging in sexual relations, witnessed by over 100 people.