Beating a Woman in Malaysia

August 24th, 2009

Anyone following the news lately has heard of the case of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, a young woman in Malaysia who has been sentenced under Sharia law to be “caned” for having a beer. This is a young woman, 32 years old, with two young children. She will be punished in prison, away from public view, with six strikes from some sort of “cane” instrument. In other words, she’s going to be beaten for having a beer.

Drinking is illegal in Malaysia because of Muslim laws, and all ethnic Malays are considered to be Muslims. This unfortunate woman has apparently been selected to set an example. CNN just ran a report on the situation, going out of their way to point out that “caning” people for drinking in Malaysia is very unusual and that this will be the first woman to receive that punishment.

Perhaps part of the reason for meting out such a severe punishment is the fact that she’s very attractive and a part-time model. To the primitive Muslim men who sit in judgment on these kinds of sins, that alone is probably worth a good beating.