Husbands may not sodomise their wives, Kelantan says

Deputy MB explains that the current hudud law suggests a husband may have anal sex with his wife.

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS-ruled Kelantan intends to make the Islamic law it lives by crystal clear in regard to sodomy or anal sex as the current version lacks specificity on whether married couples are permitted to engage in it or not.

According to an article on Berita Harian, Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah has confirmed that amendments have been formulated as the current Kelantan Shariah Criminal Code Enactment II, passed in 1993 was lacking.

Mohd Amar explained, “The amendment will state explicitly that a husband who sodomises his wife will be charged according to ‘takzir’ (corporal punishment).”

The current version only prohibits sodomy between men and between unmarried men and women.

“This gives the impression that a husband is allowed to sodomise his wife,” Mohd Amar explained.

Meanwhile Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob announced recently that a special meeting would be held on December 29 involving its state legislative assembly to table and pass amendments to its current hudud law in time for its tabling in Parliament as a private member’s bill.

Kelantan’s strict hudud laws cover theft, robbery, adultery, rape and sodomy and carry severe punishment like amputation, flogging and death by stoning upon conviction by a Shariah Court.