A notable Malaysian transgender entrepreneur has been arrested in Thailand, according to police, for insulting Islam by cross-dressing, and the authorities are seeking her extradition.

Concerns about the worsening climate for the LGBT community in Muslim-majority Malaysia have been heightened by the case of Nur Sajat, who owns a cosmetics company.

Officials are increasingly speaking out against homosexuality, and they just declared that they are considering toughening anti-gay laws.

 

Sajat, 36, was prosecuted in January of this year in an Islamic court outside of Kuala Lumpur for violating syariah norms by dressed as a woman at a religious function in 2018.

After she failed to appear for a hearing in February, the court issued an arrest warrant, and she has been on the run ever since.
If convicted, she may face up to three years in prison.

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country with a dual-track legal system, with syariah courts hearing some Muslim disputes.

 

Sajat was arrested on Sept. 8 in Thailand by immigration authorities for holding an invalid passport and was charged with immigration offences, according to Malaysian police.

According to them, Sajat is wanted in Malaysia for crimes such as obstructing a civil worker.

"Efforts are being undertaken to bring the suspect back," said police spokesman Abdul Jalil Hassan, referring to Sajat as Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman in full.

 

The cops did not provide any additional information.
However, according to The Star newspaper, Thai authorities apprehended her at a high-end Bangkok condominium and freed her on bond.

The "continued prosecution of Nur Sajat exemplifies the climate of repression against LGBT persons in Malaysia," according to Ms Thilaga Sulathireh, co-founder of Malaysian transgender advocacy group Justice for Sisters.

"All investigations and harassment against Sajat must be dropped immediately," she told AFP.

It is atrocious that Thailand has allowed itself to get involved with the persecution under such a repressive regime. 

 

While in full support of an individuals rights to practice religion as they wish so long as it harms no one else, governments and regimes repressing the rights of individuals simply wrong - it seems it is those nations with a strong base in Islam which seem so backwards in this respect to the point of being ‘abhorrent’. 

 

This person needs protection from persecution. 

 

 

7 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

It is atrocious that Thailand has allowed itself to get involved with the persecution under such a repressive regime. 

 

While in full support of an individuals rights to practice religion as they wish so long as it harms no one else, governments and regimes repressing the rights of individuals simply wrong - it seems it is those nations with a strong base in Islam which seem so backwards in this respect to the point of being ‘abhorrent’. 

 

This person needs protection from persecution. 

 

 

Surely she would have a strong case for asylum as a refugee on the basis that she would clearly face persecution if she was sent back.