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1. Pecah Lobang « SWOP-LV NEWS on 20 Mar 2009 at 1:26 pm

   [...] Pecah Lobang [Reposted from Racialicious] [...]

Comments

1. Zahra wrote:

   This looks like a great film.

   This is not my area of expertise, but I think you mean the Malaysian interpretation of Sharia law in recent years, or perhaps something even more specifc. From what I understand, Sharia is an abstract concept, kind of like justice. I doubt it could be the same country to country.

   People we would understand as transwomen today were prominent in pre- and early Islamic Arabia; the mukhannathun were a major force in the music/entertainment industry focused on Mecca in Islam’s early years.

   In fact there’s a tradition in which a group of people drag a mukhannath before the Prophet and tell him they’re going to execute her [the mukhannathun] for “dressing as a woman.” Muhammad forbids them from doing so, and commutes the sentence to exile, saying “I have been forbidden to harm those who pray.”

   Of course, I’m not a scholar, so I can’t say where that particular hadith ranks in the scheme of things.

   Posted 11 Mar 2009 at 11:27 am ¶

2. Jha wrote:

   Wow, that took me for a turn, seeing that phrase here on Racialicious! That documentary looks fascinating.

   Sharia law has taken a turn towards the extreme in the recent years (alongside with a lot of other things). When I grew up, I remember trans people being tolerated, in that micro-aggressive way. That’s mostly due to our proximity with Thailand where trans people are more visible.

   I’ll be sure to plug this. Thanks for the tip!

   Posted 11 Mar 2009 at 9:39 pm ¶

3. Tracey wrote:

   I’m glad for this post. Transgriot is one of the other blogs I regularly read.

   Posted 11 Mar 2009 at 10:06 pm ¶

4. luckyfatima wrote:

   That’s right Zahra, there is no book called “The Shariah Law,” and what consists of Shariah law is highly subject to context and interpretation. Unfortunately in certain places due to political climate and other factors (even economic reasons, need for empowerment, etc.) some societies have turned towards very narrow interprative schemes that mostly focus on controlling sexuality, especially of women, as well as outward signs of religiosity like clothes and beards and so forth. It is really frustrating to watch this happen to my religion. One would hope if Shariah were implemented, it could be used to regulate economic practices to distribute alms tax and reduce poverty and so forth but sadly that isn’t the case…Saudi’s business laws are not strictly based on Islamic principles, for example.

   Gender re-assignment operations are actually permitted by Saudi as well as Iranian scholars, and people who have undergone the operation can legally change their gender identity according to the civil law in both places. I don’t believe it is permitted in any other Muslim majority country. The reason behind it isn’t some enlightened tolerance, it is viewing being born into the wrong body as a type of correctable illness.

   Yes and there are several traditions about Al Khaneeth (Al Mukhannath). There are still Khaneeth communities even in the ultra conservative Arabian Peninsula, they perform at weddings and so forth. They are not exactly like, but similar to Hijray/khusray of Pakistan and India. But there are other traditions as well as ayaat in the Quran which specifically forbid men to dress as women and women to dress as men. There are a lot of things which I have questions about like this.

   It seems that these societies are all more willing to somewhat tolerate people’s presence under the pretense that they are fated by God to be in the wrong body, or are hermaphrodites (this is origincally what is implied by being a khaneeth or hijra). But not so accepting of homosexuality.

   Like I said, it is one of those things that I am not set about. I have a hard time believing that my faith condemns people just for their inherent sexual nature. But certainly a lot of my co-religionists would be very willing to treat these people punitively, especially these days.

   I would like to see this documentary…interesting that it is made by a Chinese Malaysian.

   Posted 12 Mar 2009 at 4:18 am ¶

5. Mark wrote:

   Does the ban against transgender people apply only to the Muslim majority, or to everyone? How are the other ethnic groups in Malaysia (chinese, indian, etc) affected?

   Posted 12 Mar 2009 at 5:44 am ¶

6. Cycads wrote:

   Mark,

   As far as I know, the ban against transgender groups should apply to every individual in Malaysia (given the country’s rather conservative position on sexuality). But such individuals are usually ‘tolerated’ by the police and are allowed to live peaceful, if not fairly difficult lives.

   Prostitution districts and centres (massage parlours, for example), and beauty contests are usually raided by the religious police. There are civil laws though. If caught at places mentioned above, however, non-Muslims only pay a small fine (RM25-50, 5 to 10 dollars approx), while Muslims pay heftier fine of RM1000, which includes time at a ‘religious’ rehab centre.

   Posted 12 Mar 2009 at 7:16 am ¶

7. Cycads wrote:

   Just a note: “should” in “the ban against transgender groups should apply to every individual in Malaysia (given the country’s rather conservative position on sexuality).” actually means “may” or “might”. Sorry if I caused offence of confusion. Morning slip-up!

   Laws pertaining to ‘decency’ in Malaysia is quite hazy, so whether or not there is actually a ban on transgenderism is quite contentious.

   Posted 12 Mar 2009 at 10:54 am ¶

8. Jha wrote:

   Just to say, the filmmaker isn’t living in Malaysia anymore. Best way to get it is from the production company itself:
   Pusat KOMAS
   40-A, Jalan 52/18,
   46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

   The coordinator for the sales of the DVD (Freedom Film Fest 2008) can be reached at meiyee39@yahoo.co.uk

   Or online.

   The DVD consists of three 30 minute documentaries, one of which is Pecah Lobang. Subtitles are available in English, too. Just thought I’d pass it along.

   Posted 12 Mar 2009 at 9:19 pm ¶