There are reports that a lesbian couple have been arrested in Malaysia after religious police raided their hotel room in Johor Baru. Newspaper Sinar Harian reported that two young women had been arrested by officers of the Johor Islamic Religious Department. Nine officers were searching the hotel when they came across the two women sharing a room. During the search of the women’s room a sex toy was discovered. Both women could face up a fine of $5000 Malaysian Ringit or up to three years in jail and six strokes of the cane for the offense. The women reportedly told the religious police that they had bought the sex toy online and although it had been opened they had not used it. In publishing the story the newspaper also included an image of the two women taking during the search. The women’s faces were blurred in the image. Rights organisation Sisters of Islam have called for the police to conduct a thorough investigation. The SIS’s legal officer Rashidi Abd Rahim has spoken to the ‘Raykat Post’ highlighting that they news reports have failed to show any criminal act had taken place and prosecutors would have to prove that a sexual act had taken place.
Earlier this year the Malaysian government declared one of the countries leading human rights groups illegal. The move came after the Comango group lodged a report with United Nations criticising the nations stance of LGBTIQ rights.
Image: Stock image Yay Micro / MTKang
