SHAH ALAM - Terengganu has courted the ire of women's right activists for criminalising unwed pregnant women and girls through its latest amendment of the state Sharia Criminal Offences Act 2001.
Jernell Tan Chia Ee of the All Women's Action Society (Awam) argued that the legislative amendment will stigmatise those who were pregnant out-of-wedlock by branding them as criminals.
"Criminalisation perpetuates these problematic dynamics and social stigma experienced by these women and girls," Tan remarked, lamenting the public scrutiny and policing of women in the country.
She believed that the approach of the powers that be in Terengganu was fallible as it seemed to ignore other contributing factors in matters concerning unwed pregnancies.
"Factors such as gender-based violence and lack of sexual and reproductive health awareness. that lead or contribute to many of these pregnancies.
"Why won't they also hold the men and boys who father these babies accountable,” she told Sinar Daily.
Tan also pointed out that the criminalisation of those carrying unwed pregnancies will likely lead to more child marriages -- given Terengganu's minimum marriageable age of 16 -- due to fear of prosecution.
"Apart from that, this could also lead to other potentially tragic outcomes such as cases of baby dumping, the use of underground abortion services which endangers both the mother and child," added Tan.
Echoing Tan's censure over the matter was lawyer Ainie Haziqah who retorted that Terengganu was out of touch with reality over said Sharia law amendement.
"When the nation has been pushing to stop women and child abuse, child marriages, they, on the other hand, have introduced law that discriminate women.
"The reality is that; Pas has always been out of touch. We need to have comprehensive sex education for our youngsters instead of enacting punishments without knowing the consequences.
The latest amendment of Terengganu's Sharia law also saw the criminalisation of sodomy, shamanism, witchcraft and also women who impersonate men.