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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45771248">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-45771248</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#1E1E1E">Malaysia – First Female Muslim Sharia High Court Judge</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">
panel</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040"><img border="0" width="659" height="371" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D4810E.84BD7100" alt="Nenney Shushaidah"></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#ECECEC;letter-spacing:.2pt;background:#404040"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">Joshua Paul for BBC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">By Heather Chen
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#5A5A5A">BBC News, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">20 November 2018</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040"> -
<b>Islamic law, also known as Sharia, is often associated by critics with harsh punishments and hardline attitudes. But one of Malaysia's first female Sharia high court judges says her role gives her an opportunity to protect women in the Muslim-majority nation.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">Judge Nenney Shushaidah presides over five trials a day and can hear up to 80 cases a week.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">Malaysia practises a moderate form of Islam but conservative attitudes have been on the rise and the use of Sharia is growing as well. Under a dual-track legal system,
thousands of Muslims use it to settle moral and family matters. Non-Muslims are required to follow secular laws that deal with the same matters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">She passes judgment on everything from financial cases to those involving the Sharia concept of Khalwat [unmarried Muslim couples being caught in compromising situations].<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">But her expertise lies in child custody and cases of polygamy - the Muslim concept of allowing men to marry up to four wives, which is legal in Malaysia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">Judge Shushaidah says there are many factors she considers before, for example, allowing a polygamous union.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"Every case is complex and different," she explained. "You can't generalise Islamic law and say it favours men and treats women badly... I want to correct that misconception."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040"><img border="0" width="627" height="352" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D4810E.84BD7100" alt="Nenney Shushaidah adjusts her robes"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#ECECEC;letter-spacing:.2pt;background:#404040"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#0D0D0D">'My robes remind me of the heavy responsibilities that come with being a Sharia judge' – Photo by Joshua Paul BBC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">All those involved in a proposed polygamous marriage are required to be physically present in Judge Shushaidah's court.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"I want to hear from everyone, not just [the] men," she said. "I make it a point to speak with women to find out if they are on board with the arrangement. It is important
that they agree to it because if I see any signs that say otherwise then I won't grant permission."
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"I am female and I can understand most women would not like the idea. But it is allowed under Islam, and our Malaysian courts have enacted strict laws to govern this."
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"A man has to have very strong reasons for wanting another marriage," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:51.0pt;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;background:white">
<![if !supportLists]><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#404040"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">§<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-46225037"><b><span style="color:#222222;text-decoration:none">BBC 100 Women 2018: Who is on the
list?</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"He must show he can look after the welfare of his first wife as well as the women who come after. He is not allowed to neglect the needs of anyone."
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">Judge Shushaidah added that some wives can be supportive of the idea.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">She recalls, for example, a case which involved a seriously ill woman who could no longer bear children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"She loved her husband and wanted me to grant him permission to marry a second wife. So I did."
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">She defends her religion's reputation for strict laws by arguing that it is capable of fairness.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">But critics and rights groups argue Sharia is often misused.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">We have no objection to Sharia law that doesn't discriminate against
women, gay people or social and religious minorities," Asia deputy director of Human Rights Watch Phil Robertson told BBC 100 Women.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"But the problem with Sharia law in Malaysia is that too often it does precisely that.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"Religion is never an acceptable reason to violate international human rights standards of equality and non-discrimination."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">For example rights activists were outraged by the recent caning of two Malaysian women convicted of attempting to have lesbian sex, and say Sharia law was misused in this
case.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">Judge Shushaidah would not address the case, but said: "Caning under Sharia law serves to educate offenders so as not to repeat the act again."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">Judge Shushaidah also argues that Sharia does not always rule in favour of men.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"Our law exists to protect women's rights. It looks at their welfare and safeguards their livelihoods," she said.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"Islam holds women in high regard and as judges, we must return to its teachings and maintain worthiness using Sharia."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">Her greatest concern lies with Muslim men bypassing strict Sharia court procedures by marrying overseas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"He wouldn't be bound by Malaysian law if he marries abroad. Some wives actually consent to this to protect their husbands but they don't realise how it works against
them," she said. "Our Sharia laws are in place to protect the interests of women and hold men accountable."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">Women's groups like
<a href="http://www.sistersinislam.org.my/"><b><span style="color:#222222;text-decoration:none">Sisters in Islam</span></b></a> highlighted a "severe shortage of female representation" in the courts and a "strong sense of patriarchy" in the overall system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"The Sharia legal context in Malaysia not only selectively discriminates against women, it vilifies them as the cause of social immoralities," said spokeswoman Majidah
Hashim.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"State Islamic institutions... have done little to ensure women are accorded due justice. In fact, the recent prosecution of women under Sharia law clearly shows that
their voices are alarmingly silenced and access to justice is worryingly stifled."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">This makes Judge Shushaidah's appointment a particularly significant one.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"Back in my day, most Sharia judges were men who questioned the need for women in the practice," said Judge Shushaidah.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"I never dreamed of becoming a judge," she admitted. "As a lawyer, I didn't know if I could take on such a senior role that dealt with complicated cases. And as a woman,
I felt doubt and fear."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#404040">"Sometimes I do feel uneasy. As a woman, I must feel, and I'd be lying if I said I felt nothing. But I am a judge and I have to make sure I am always clear and objective.
So in my judgment, I try and address this. I make do with the best evidence I get in court."
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">______________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></p>
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