Malaysia’s top court invalidates state’s Islam-based laws on incest, sodomy and other offenses

By EILEEN NG
Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s top court has struck down Shariah-based criminal laws in an opposition-run state, saying they encroached on federal authority. Islamists denounced Friday’s decision and said it could undermine religious courts across the Muslim-majority nation. In an 8-1 ruling, the nine-member Federal Court panel invalidated 16 laws created by the Kelantan state government. It imposed punishments rooted in Islam for offenses that included sodomy, sexual harassment, incest, cross-dressing and destroying or defiling places of worship. The court said that the state could not make Islamic laws on those topics because they are covered by Malaysian federal law.