THERE is nothing compassionate about caning, especially when it’s a state-orchestrated public spectacle, said the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality today.

They rubbished claims by the Terengganu exco and Malaysian Association of Syariah Lawyers that caning did not amount to torture and did not compromise the dignity of the two women caned for having same-sex relations.

Justice for Sisters spokesman S. Thilaga said she could hear one of the two women crying when she was caned in front of 100 witnesses last Monday.

“It was for all intent and purposes a spectacle. You could see them covering their face as they walked into the courtroom. We could see how there were a lot of public interest watching the caning take place.

“The second person was hit a bit harder. You could see the whole courtroom gasping. I immediately cried when the second person was hit. You could see the second person crying,” said Thilaga in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

The caning of the lesbian couple put Malaysia in international headlines. Local and international human rights groups have called it torture but Malay-Muslims believe it could be an effective scare tactic to deter same-sex relations among Muslims.

Justice for Sisters is one of 13 women’s rights groups the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality. Other members include Women’s Aid Organisation, Tenaganita, Association of Women Lawyers and Sisters in Islam.

Thilaga said it was absurd for the authorities to think that such a degrading and humiliating punishment could serve as a lesson to society.

“What it has caused is trauma. There has been an escalation of violence against LGBT people in recent years. This caning is just adding to the trauma. A lot of people are depressed.”

Lawyer Honey Tan said it was absurd that other states are thinking of executing such punishment in a stadium.

“Is this like a show? It shouldn’t be,” said Tan, adding that Malaysia should end all forms of corporal punishment once and for all.

Sisters in Islam executive director Rozana Isa, echoing Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Islam is a compassionate religion and such punishment that degrades human dignity is un-Islamic.

Suhakam commissioner Lok Yim Pheng, who was also present today, said public caning humiliated not just the two women, but their families, too.

“Don’t take this lightly. We need to protect the dignity of every individual,” said Lok. – September 12, 2018.