Two Muslim youth groups lodge 'qazaf' report

 

Two Muslim youth groups have lodged a report at the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) in Kuala Lumpur for the syariah offence of ‘qazaf’ - the act of accusing a person of sex out of marriage or sodomy, without four credible witnesses or an admission.

In a joint statement, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) and Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM) did not disclose the person that they had lodged the qazaf report against.

However, their report follows Putrajaya MP Mohd Radzi Md Jidin's outburst in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday during which he said "Tambun peliwat (sodomiser)" in reference to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar at the time was delivering his winding-up speech after debates on the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review.

"A stern warning against such act (qazaf) has been emphasised in Islam, whereby the lesson is to teach its followers to always uphold another person's dignity from slander or qazaf," said Abim, who also reminded of punishment for the offence.

Abim vice-president Zairudin Hashim

Its vice-president Zairudin Hashim said the Federal Territories Syariah Offences Act 1997 provided for punishment of up to RM5,000 fine or three years imprisonment.

In urging Malaysians to reject such practices in politics, Zairudin said: "Our beloved nation must be built on the practice of mature politics that focuses on realising ideals which can benefit the people."

Anwar had in 2015 lodged a qazaf report against lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who had accused him of sodomosing his former assistant Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

However, the case did not proceed after the Syariah Appeals Court dismissed Anwar's appeal two years after the initial report was lodged.

Only for ‘zina’ accusations

Judge Md Yusup Che Teh, who at the time presided over a three-member bench, ruled that an accusation of sodomy is not applicable to be charged for qazaf as the related law only deals with the accusation of zina (premarital sex).

Meanwhile, the Federal Court in February 2015, upheld Anwar's conviction and five-year prison sentence for sodomy.

Then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V in 2018 granted Anwar a royal pardon and immediate release from jail.

Anwar has described the charges as part of a larger political conspiracy against him. - Mkini