A file picture of PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. – Bernama
PETALING JAYA: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has defended the public caning of two women in Terengganu for attempting to have same-sex relations.
In a one-minute video published on his Facebook page, Abdul Hadi said that those who criticised the caning should have down some research to see the difference between caning meted out under Islamic and criminal law.
"I am confident that if they had looked at the difference, I believe that even non-Muslims would choose Islamic caning," he said in the video on Sunday night (Sept 9).
Abdul Hadi said the acquittal of Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng's case over a corruption case was more important than the two individuals who were caned.
On Sept 3, two women pleaded guilty for attempting to have same-sex relations.
They were caned six times at the Syariah High Court, which resulted in criticism from both sides of the political divide and from civil society groups.
Earlier, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir had also expressed his Cabinet's disagreement to the canings.
