A man was publicly flogged inside a mosque in Malaysia on Friday after being convicted of an Islamic offense for spending time alone with a woman who was neither his wife nor relative, according to state news.
The 42-year-old construction worker was given six lashes in Malaysia’s conservative state of Terengganu after being convicted by a Sharia court, the official Bernama news agency said.
It was the first instance of a Sharia court-ordered whipping taking place outside of a court setting in Malaysia according to the agency.
An AFP journalist saw the man delivered to the mosque in a prison van after Friday prayers, wearing an orange inmate’s jumpsuit as he entered before a hushed crowd.
The caning in punishment for the Islamic crime known as “khalwat” took place inside the mosque after an audience of around 90 people was admitted.
Earlier this week the Malaysian Bar association of lawyers said it had “profound concern” over the decision to flog the man.
“Such punishments strip individuals of their dignity,” a statement said.
But Spectator Mohd Sabri Muhammad said he hoped the it would deter those “tempted to commit immoral acts”.
“Valentine’s Day, New Year’s, there are many opportunities for young people to engage in inappropriate behavior,” the 37-year-old told AFP.
