Nur Sajat alleges assault, molest by religious authorities during questioning

Cosmetic entrepreneur Nur Sajat has alleged that she was physically assaulted and molested by religious officers while she was in Malaysia.

Her revelation came in an interview with the New York Times, which was published yesterday.

Sajat said the incident took place at the Selangor Islamic religious department (Jais) office in January this year after she was summoned by the department over public complaints.

She alleged at least three men kicked, pinned her down, and groped her breasts.

She was later handcuffed, arrested and charged in Shariah Court on the same day, before being placed in a male detention facility.

The article said Sajat’s mother witnessed the assault and confronted one officer asking how pious Muslims could do something like that.

The officer responded that Sajat was a man so it was fine, according to the article.

“They think it is justified to touch my private parts and my breasts because they perceive me as a male person.

“They didn’t treat me with any compassion or humanity,” she was quoted telling the New York Times.

On the allegations made by Sajat, Jais told Malaysiakini today it has no statement on the matter so far.

It is learned that Sajat made the claims in February, which prompted Jais to also lodge a police report.

“Jais is open to investigation, and left the case to the police to investigate,” said an officer, who spoke to Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity.

Sajat, who is a transperson, fled to Thailand last month after Malaysian authorities issued an arrest warrant over her failure to attend a Shariah Court hearing.

She was detained by Thai immigration in Bangkok after the Malaysian government voided her passport.

Sajat eventually fled to Australia while holding a United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Card.

Meanwhile, she told the New York Times that she was a target of the Malaysian government, and fleeing to Australia is a difficult yet correct choice despite having to leave her family and business behind.

“I’ve always been scapegoated to distract from larger issues, and my case has been sensationalised because of my social media presence.

“When I received refuge in Australia, I felt protected to be my true self, to be free.

“I felt trapped in my own country, where I was born, because of the laws there that criminalise me and consider me a man,” she said.

Currently undergoing mandatory quarantine after landing in Down Under, Sajat believes as long as laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia continue, she does not see a way to return.

“I was trapped and cornered in Malaysia because of the Shariah system.

“My very being, my existence, was being questioned. But I am very firm in my identity as a woman. This is who I am,” she told the New York Times.

Malaysiakini has contacted the police for a response. - Mkini