A single mother of one, Nurfifi Amira Nawi, has been sentenced to caning after being found guilty of committing khalwat in Terengganu, Malaysia. This makes her the first woman to receive such a punishment for this offense in the state. Khalwat refers to being in close proximity with a man who is not her spouse or a close relative, which is considered unlawful in Islam.
Nurfifi Amira was previously convicted of a similar offense in 2018 and was fined. However, she found herself in a similar situation again, as she was caught committing khalwat in a house in Kemaman, Terengganu, at 3:15 pm on January 31, 2024. A 40-year-old man, who was not her husband or mahram, was also present in the house at the time. In Islamic law, mahram refers to a family member with whom marriage would be considered haram or unlawful.
Nurfifi Amira pleaded guilty to the offense and was sentenced by Terengganu’s Syariah High Court judge on April 17, 2024. She was given six strokes of the cane, fined RM4,000 (S$1,140), or eight months in jail in default. The judge ordered that the caning be carried out on May 6, should Nurfifi Amira fail to submit an appeal within a 14-day window after the sentencing.
The judge also advised Nurfifi Amira to get married immediately to avoid committing a similar offense again. He stated, “You said you wanted to marry, but no action was taken. There is no remorse.”
Under Terengganu’s laws, khalwat offenders can be handed up to six strokes of the cane, fined up to RM5,000 (S$1,420), or three years in prison, for their second and subsequent offenses. Nurfifi Amira’s case highlights the importance of adhering to Islamic laws and the consequences of not doing so.
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