KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — The Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) has claimed that its programmes have successfully turned most of their 2,000 former participants from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community into “normal” Muslims.
Umno-linked daily Utusan Malaysia reported Jawi head director Paimuzi Yahya as saying today that “a large number” of the participants of the programmes, which were conducted since 2005, have returned to life as “normal Muslims”.
“Such programmes have helped them to know themselves and to return to their nature,” Paimuzi was quoted saying in a statement today.
The Jawi official said the programmes involved Quran studies, faith strengthening and motivational courses.
Paimuzi also said an event organised by Jawi three years ago on human rights, gender identity and sexual orientation had concluded that the medical condition of these transgenders can only be acknowledged by both medical and Shariah experts.
Last Friday, the Court of Appeal made a landmark decision in a transgender case, ruling that Section 66 of the Negri Sembilan Shariah Criminal Enactment 1992, which prohibits Muslim men from cross-dressing, was unconstitutional and void as the state law violated several fundamental liberties enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
The appellate court had said the law was discriminatory as it failed to recognise men diagnosed with gender identity disorder ― in which male sufferers identify themselves as women ― and ruled in favour of three Muslim transgenders ― Muhamad Juzaili Mohd Khamis, Shukur Jani and Wan Fairol Wan Ismail ― who were convicted of cross-dressing under the Negri Sembilan shariah law.
After the ruling by Malaysia’s second highest court, the Federal Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) invited transgenders to enter a spiritual rehabilitation programme that they claim has convinced some to leave their “deviant ways”.
