Malaysia Appoints 1st Female Islamic Court Judges

July 8, 2010

Author: Julia Zappei

Source: Syracuse Post-Standard

Wire Service: AP

http://www.syracuse.com/religion/index.ssf?/base/international-34/127857765148100.xml&storylist=religion

Malaysia's Islamic Shariah courts have appointed their first female judges-a move praised by women's rights activists Thursday as a boost for a judicial system often accused of favoring men.

Suraya Ramli and Rafidah Abdul Razak, formerly officials at the government's Islamic judicial department, were named Shariah court judges for Kuala Lumpur and the administrative capital of Putrajaya in May, but the appointment was only announced in the past week by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib said the step was meant to "enhance justice in cases involving families and women's rights" in Malaysia, where nearly two-thirds of the country's 28 million people are Muslims.