THE seven-day jail sentence imposed on Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah is disproportionate and clearly unreasonable, the Joint Action Group (JAG) said today.

The civil rights group said prosecuting Chin is not only oppressive and appalling, but it also serves as a form of intimidation, a consistent pattern of silencing women who have faced injustice as a result of legal and religious interpretations of the law.

Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur Shariah Court sentenced Chin to seven days in jail for contempt of court for insulting the Islamic judicial system.

Chin’s charge is related to a statement she made on September 5, 2019, when she said Muslim women are still being discriminated against under the shariah judicial system in Malaysia.

Her statement was in relation to the Shariah Court’s decision to sentence S.M. Faisal S.M. Nasimuddin’s ex-wife, Emilia Hanafi, to seven days in prison for rescheduling his visitation dates.

“JAG strongly condemns the sentence given by the Kuala Lumpur Shariah High Court,” it said.

“As a lawmaker, Chin has both the right to freedom of expression and the duty to address injustice and inequalities, including that which takes place through any legal system, shariah or civil.

“Maria is one of the beacons who speaks for gender equality and her role should not be undermined,” it said.

Emilia, a survivor of domestic violence, divorced S.M. Faisal in 2016 and retained custody of their three children.

In October 2018, she rescheduled S.M. Faisal’s visitation dates for her children, as she was out of town with her children for a religious event.

Despite maintaining she did not deny her ex-husband visitation rights or violate any court orders, a seven-day prison sentence was imposed on her.

“Emilia’s case is not an isolated incident as many survivors face injustices with reference to the protection of their rights in the shariah legal system,” the group said.

JAG said while they welcome the decision of the Kuala Lumpur Shariah High Court to suspend the sentence on Chin pending appeal, it stands in solidarity with her.

“Freedom of expression and speech are enshrined in our Federal Constitution under article 10(a),” JAG added. – April 26, 2022.