AFP/AFP / Getty Images
The Federal Court in Malaysia dismissed a previous ruling by the Court of Appeals that Section 66 of the Sharia code of the state of Negeri Sembilan -- that prohibits a Muslim man from cross-dressing and posing as a woman -- was unconstitutional, on the basis of "procedural non-compliance."
The Federal Court claimed the case should not have been taken up by the Judicial Review, but referred to the High Court and taken directly to the Federal Court, according to Free Malaysia Today.
Thursday's ruling reversed a lower court's November 2014 decision to strike down the state's religious code that made it a crime for "any Muslim male person" to "wear a woman's attire" or "pose as a woman." Last year's ruling was viewed as a major victory for the transgender community in Malaysia.
“As long as section 66 is in force the appellants will continue to live in uncertainty, misery, and indignity. … Therefore, section 66 is unconstitutional and void,” Judge Dato’ Mohd Hishamudin Yunus wrote in November for a unanimous three-judge panel of the appeals court.
Section 66 was adopted in 1992 as part of the Syariah Criminal Enactment, with a penalty of up to six months and a fine equal to around $300.
LINK: Victory For Transgender Activists Over Sharia Law
from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1Mg8h86
No comments:
Post a Comment