Muslim Woman To Be Caned: Wants To Get Beer-Punishment Over With

by Alyzee | September 29, 2009 at 11:35 am

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A 32-year-old Muslim woman in Malaysia who was sentenced to be caned for drinking beer in July wants to get her punishment over with. Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno faces the verdict of the Shariah court in Malaysia which sentences her to six strokes.

Kartika, a former model and nurse, was sentenced in July to six strokes of the cane and a fine of 5,000 ringgit ($1,400) for drinking beer in December 2007 at a beach resort in violation of Islamic laws. Islam prohibits Muslims from drinking alcohol.

Katrika`s case caused a debate among moderate Muslim-majority and the conservative government which resulted in a delayed punishment as the case was being reviewed. The Shariah courts have decided to go ahead with the caning, but have yet to set a date for it.

Kartika's father, Shukarno Abdul Muttlib, 60, told The Associated Press that while the family had yet to be informed of the judge's latest decision, his daughter "accepts the punishment" and would like it to be carried out sooner rather than later.

The caning will be done with a thin stick according to chinapost.com, which is supposedly symbolic:

The caning would be done with a thin stick on the back and would be largely symbolic rather than aimed at causing pain, unlike the caning of rapists and drug smugglers with a thick rattan stick on bare buttocks that causes the skin to break and leave scars.

The prisons department reportedly has trained staff to conduct the caning according to Islamic rules.