Malaysia Canes Women

Although the oppression of women in some foreign countries is routine, we ought not to forget cases like the recent ones in Malaysia in which three women were caned for having extramarital intercourse and another awaits a caning decision for, *gasp*, drinking beer.

Malaysia’s legal system is particularized, which means that the nation’s Islamic law—which was responsible for the caning of the women—does not apply to the large Chinese and Indian minorities. —JCL

The BBC:

Three Malaysian women have been caned by the authorities for having extra-marital sex, say officials.

They are the first women to receive such a sentence under Islamic law in the country.

The punishments come as another Malaysian woman waits to hear whether her caning - for drinking beer - is carried out.

Malaysia’s majority Malays are subject to Islamic laws, while the large Chinese and Indian minorities are not.

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Wikimedia Commons

The canes used for corporeal punishment in Malaysia are called rotans. The front row shows the thicker rotan.