Malaysian Man Faces Public Caning for Repeated “Close Proximity” Offense

KUALA LUMPUR – A 42-year-old man in Malaysia is set to be publicly caned at a mosque after being convicted of “khalwat” – the Islamic offense of being in close proximity with an unmarried person – for the third time. The man, a father of five and construction worker, was sentenced by a Sharia court judge in the northeastern state of Terengganu on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty to the offense and was sentenced to six strokes of the cane along with a fine, according to state news agency Bernama.

The punishment will take place in a public setting, as per the court’s ruling, reflecting Malaysia’s strict enforcement of Islamic laws, particularly in more conservative regions. The crime of “khalwat” is often charged in cases where unmarried couples are found together in private settings, violating the country’s Sharia laws.