UPDATE: Malaysia: Religious Department threatens to carry out caning in secret
Source:
NST Syariah prosecution head Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said the department would not announce when 32-year-old Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno would be caned, scheduled for after Hari Raya, to avoid a "media circus".
The department would only announce it after the punishment had been carried out. "There is no need to publicise when she (Kartika) will be caned. We might do it quietly and will not make an announcement to let the public know. If we do, it will be afterwards. We do not want the issue to be exploited and for foreigners especially the foreign media to accuse and label us and our laws as being cruel to women," he said yesterday.
Kartika was fined RM500 and ordered to be given six strokes of the rotan. She was reported to have said on Wednesday she was was upset with those who had disturbed her and her family.
Kartika wanted the sentence to be carried out quickly; she said too many individuals, organisations, politicians and non-governmental organisations had met her and her family, and she threatened to take legal action against those who disturbed her peace and that of her family.
She has appointed several civil and syariah lawyers from Adham and Associates in Ipoh, to look after her interests and those of her family.
18 September 2009
Source: NST
