Policing women's dressing a form of violation, harassment, says Sisters in Islam

PETALING JAYA: Moral policing on how women should dress is a form of violation and harassment, and undermining their autonomy and dignity, says Sisters in Islam (SIS).

It said it was disconcerting to see this kind of moral policing continuously happening in Malaysia.

"Sisters in Islam opposes any efforts by the government, public institutions, or private sector to force women to dress according to their rules and standards.

"This is a form of violation and harassment to women to choose their attire and undermine their autonomy and dignity," it said in a statement on Friday (Feb 24).

Citing several recent examples of women being subjected to policing on their attire, including Terengganu’s decision to punish women who wear "revealing" clothing and news of a woman asked to leave Parliament premises for wearing a knee-length skirt, SIS said it strongly condemned any attempts to publicly humiliate women and impose restrictive dress codes on them.

"This imposition of dress codes degrades women and creates a climate of fear and insecurity as women feel like they are constantly monitored and judged by society in public spaces.

"Therefore, it is imperative that both public and private institutions, as well as individuals, put an end to this obsession with controlling women, particularly how they dress.

"It is misogynistic and sexist to set a standard for what is 'appropriate' and 'proper' for women," added SIS.