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right to be treated equally
Hadi's Bill opens doors for disproportionate punishments, constitutional expert says
Source: The Malay Mail Online
Professor Datuk Shad Saleem Faruqi speaks at the forum 'Sejauh mana anda memahami hudud' at the PAUM Club House in Kuala Lumpur February 12, 2017. — Picture by Boo Su-Lyn
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — A private member's Bill to enhance Shariah punishments will enable excessive sentences for religious offences that mostly victimless and non-violent, Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi said today.
The constitutional expert said the Bill by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang will also allow penalties for Shariah offences that are harsher than even punishments for heavier crimes in the civil system.
"Punishment must be proportionate to the offence committed," the University of Malaya's emeritus professor of law said in a forum on understanding the Islamic penal code of hudud organised by Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.
"You're going to have penalties of 100 lashes, RM100,000 fine, or 30 years' jail for offences that are in some cases are purely victimless crimes. Some of Shariah crimes are victimless crimes — a person drinks, doesn't pray, doesn't fast — there is no clear harm to public order and national security.
"In Criminal Procedure Code, Penal Code, the offences are much lesser for much bigger offences," Shad said. Read more →
Human Rights & Wrongs	Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), equality, equality in punishment, Hadi's Bill, hudud, Islam, Penal Code, Private Member's Bill, right to be treated equally, RUU 355 - amendment to Act 355, Shad Saleem Faruqi, Shariah/Syariah Courts, supremacy of the Federal Constitution, Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355)
Protect Orang Asli children, Suhakam tells Putrajaya
October 15, 2015 April 6, 2017 admin
Source: The Malaysian Insider
Orang Asli children play near Sekolah Kebangsaan Tahoi, from which seven pupils went missing on August 23. The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia says the rights of these children are being violated, resulting in social and economic marginalisation. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 15, 2015.
Putrajaya must ensure the rights of Orang Asli children are protected, including that of education, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) said.
It also expressed disappointment that Putrajaya had not looked into or acted on any of its recommendations pertaining to the Orang Asli, adding that as such, the community has continued to face "immense challenges".
"Orang Asli children in Malaysia continue to be deprived of access to quality education that is relevant and responsive to their specific cultural context and needs," said Suhakam acting chairman Datuk Dr Khaw Lake Tee in a statement.
"Suhakam is of the view that the social and economic marginalisation of the Orang Asli is caused by the violation of their human rights. Suhakam regrets that its many recommendations have not been acted upon and as a result, the community continue to face immense challenges, including marginalisation." Read more →
Bahasa, Human Rights & Wrongs	equality, Orang Asli, Putrajaya, right to be treated equally, rights of child, Suhakam - Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
Ruling on transgender may be overturned on technicality
Source: The Star Online
PUTRAJAYA: The ruling which declared criminalising cross-dressing as unconstitutional may be overturned on a technicality, with the Negri Sembilan government arguing it was filed prematurely.
Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who acted for the state government, submitted that the suit by three transgenders had been filed in response to them being charged by the Syariah Court.
"There is no decision yet that is amendable to judicial review, you can't scuttle a criminal proceeding that is just about to begin," he told the Federal Court.
The trio had filed a judicial review at the Seremban High Court to obtain a declaration that Section 66 of the Syariah Criminal (Negri Sembilan) Enactment 1992 was invalid as it was not in line with fundamental freedom. Read more →
Human Rights & Wrongs	constitutional guarantees, Federal Constitution, freedom of association, freedom of speech, fundamental liberties, Islamic laws, right to be treated equally
Court reserves judgment on non-Muslims as Syariah lawyers
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has reserved its judgment over whether a non-Muslim is allowed to practise as a Syariah lawyer.
Court of Appeal president Justice Md Raus Sharif, who chaired a five-man panel, said the court would deliver its judgment on a later date.
The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) contended that only Muslims could practise Syariah law as Syariah courts had no jurisdiction over non-Muslims should they display any professional misconduct during proceedings. Read more →
Transgenders' bid to challenge cross-dressing law improper and premature, apex court told
Supporters of a group of transgenders challenging the Shariah law that forbids cross-dressing among Muslims are pictured at the Palace of Justice, Putrajaya, August 13, 2015. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 13 — The Negri Sembilan government told the Federal Court today that the group of transgenders challenging the Shariah law that forbids cross-dressing among Muslims had used improper channels to file their bid.
In its bid to overturn an appellate court's landmark ruling on the matter, the state government, represented by prominent lawyer Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah, also said the challenge had been premature as the group had only been charged with the offence in the Shariah Court and no decision had been delivered yet.
The lawyer argued that the Court of Appeal, and the Seremban High Court before it, had erred when it entertained the transgenders' application for judicial review as the Federal Constitution does not state they have the jurisdiction to do so.
The Court of Appeal had in November 7 last year ruled that Section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Shariah Criminal Enactment 1992 prohibiting cross-dressing by Muslims was unconstitutional and void. Read more →
Human Rights & Wrongs, Opinions & Statements	constitutional guarantees, Federal Constitution, freedom of association, freedom of speech, fundamental liberties, Islamic laws, right to be treated equally
Shariah courts can't hold non-Muslims in contempt, MAIWP lawyer reminds Federal Court
August 13, 2015 April 6, 2017 admin
Sulaiman, who is acting for the council in seeking to bar non-Muslim lawyer Victoria Jayaseele Martin from practising Shariah law in the federal territories, is pictured outside the Federal Court, August 13, 2015. — Pictures by Yusof Mat Isa
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 13 — A Shariah court cannot fully function with non-Muslim Shariah lawyers as it cannot cite them for contempt, a lawyer representing the Federal Territories Islamic Council (MAIWP) told the Federal Court today.
Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah, who is acting for the council in seeking to bar non-Muslim lawyer Victoria Jayaseele Martin from practising Shariah law in the federal territories, reminded the five-man bench that the Constitution does not give the Shariah court any jurisdiction over non-Muslims.
"In a faith-based court regulating Islamic affairs and for the benefit of Muslims, only people of that faith can argue in that court," said Sulaiman.
"If they want to practise, they must subject themselves to the court's jurisdiction," he added later."
MAIWP and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) are appealing a decision by the Court of Appeal which decided that the part in Rule 10 of the Shariah Lawyers Rules 1993, which said that only Muslims can be admitted as Shariah lawyers, exceeds the boundaries of Section 59 of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993. Read more →
Two lawsuits today spotlight supremacy of constitutional guarantees vs Islamic law [UPDATED]
State Islamic authorities have argued that fundamental constitutional rights guaranteed to all Malaysians cannot be applied to determine the validity of Islamic laws. — Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — The country's highest court sits today to hear two separate cases that essentially deal with one fundamental question: will future Malaysians have the right to challenge Shariah enactments that encroach on their constitutional rights regardless of their religious background?
In their appeals to outlaw cross-dressing among Muslim men and to bar non-Muslims from practising as Shariah lawyers, state Islamic authorities have argued that fundamental constitutional rights guaranteed to all Malaysians cannot be applied to determine the validity of Islamic laws.
But lawyers and observers have told Malay Mail Online that should Federal Court rule in favour of the Islamic religious bodies, all Malaysians — but especially Muslims — will effectively lose their only recourse for judicial challenge against discriminatory Shariah laws that they argue will see further curbs to their civil liberties. Read more →
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Transparency the key to trust January 21, 2020
Institutional Reform Committee (IRC) Report: Why the Secrecy? HAKAM Forum dated 18 January 2020 January 20, 2020
Disclosure of audio clips by MACC: Legal or not? Statement Dated 11 Jan 2020 January 12, 2020
Threat by counter groups – Law Speak December 30, 2019
The case for the constitutionality of vernacular schools December 24, 2019
All within reach of the law – Law Speak December 17, 2019
Climate Crisis: SDGs and Role of youth – Forum 15 December 2019 December 16, 2019
HAKAM Applauds AG's Decision Not To Appeal High Court Ruling That Denial of Bail Under SOSMA is Unconstitutional December 13, 2019
Human Rights Day 2019 – HAKAM Urges Government to Expedite Pro-Human Rights Reforms December 11, 2019
HAKAM Youth is here! December 6, 2019
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