In a statement today, PAS Ulama Information Chief Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said, “Marriage is the best medicine prescribed by Islam in order to curb this social ill.”
He cited recent statistics from Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department and highlighted that out of the 6,910 cases of rape reported between 2013-2015, 52% were statutory rape cases involving underage girls.
“More worrying is that out of the 52%, approximately 90% were all under the category of consensual rape whilst only 10% were under the category of force,” it stated without further elaboration on the definitions of ‘consensual’ and ‘forced’ statutory rape.
Mohd Khairuddin also mooted that parents should lend their full support and the state should be ready to incentivise victim-perpetrator nuptials.
He said, “Society, especially parents, must encourage and ease the nuptials of their children. The government must assist by providing specific incentives to ease the burden of the newly-married couple.”
The Islamic party also said that a “streamline” of the existing criminal code in relation to statutory rape is required, and a new system should reflect the tenets of Islam.
“Regarding the prosecution of the perpetrator and defense of the victim, in the context of rape, the current methods for trial and punishment as well as sentence meted on the perpetrator and rights of the victim should be streamlined and reflect the criminal syariah codes as prescribed by Islam.”
On December 22, in an interview with FMT, women’s rights group WAO said that Islamic Family Law needs to be reformed to protect girls from child marriages.
This was in response to a question posed in parliament earlier this month, wherein Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Karim said that on average, three Muslim children apply to the syariah court for permission to get married every day.
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