Unmarried couples caught in Malaysia hotel raids

[ccharles000]

Fifty-two unmarried couples could face charges of sexual misconduct and jail terms after being caught in hotel rooms by Malaysia's Islamic morality police.

Scores of officers conducted raids on budget hotels on New Year's Day in the western state of Selangor.

Those detained in the early hours of New Year's Day were mainly students and young factory workers.

The Muslim couples are expected to be charged with the offence of close proximity, or Khalwat.

Under Malaysia's Islamic Sharia Law, couples who are not married to each other should not be in a secluded area or confined space, which could give rise to suspicion that they were engaged in immoral acts.

A spokesman for the Selangor State Islamic Department says they chose New Year's Day because many people are known to commit this offence when celebrating a major holiday.

If convicted, the couples could get a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine.

Sharia laws in Malaysia apply only to Muslims, who make up over half the population.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8439899.stm

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Religion is the biggest evil in the world

[Skittles]

2. it truly is

[alp227]

3. What, the BBC report actually used the term "morality police"?

I thought "morality police" was a fictional term to criticize moral hardliners!

:rofl:

Malaysia has all sorts of wacky sharia enforcements. For example, the law prohibits Muslims from attending concerts that are sponsored by beer brewers (a Black Eyed Peas concert from last September being a recent example).

The good thing about the US is that the First Amendment prevents civil and religious law from mixing, despite the fantasies of the "America is a Christian nation" fanatics. It's the people's responsibility, not the government's, to decide what to worship and believe.

[rd_kent]

4. If the wingnuts in this country could get away with this, they would. Keep your religion to yourself

please!

[Ian David]

5. No one expects The Malaysian Inquisition! n/t