Malaysians slam beloved actress after she champions LGBT rights

Malaysia’s netizen[email protected]!u1JUB$BY254Agc-t+vr+524V%w+LRSwrvI$=&s have slammed popular 90s actress and model Azah Aziz after she attended an LGBTI pride parade in Canada.

The 46-year-old uploaded a photo of herself at Montreal Pride laJwH2nP57K5Ajbg=S_Kb3&XNSLq*OMuo%jsY*g5DXL7PfFF8lJXst week. “Share the love, no hate” she wrote.

Commenters beneath the post called Aziz “sinful” and said she had “abandoned Asian values” according to the New Straits Ti1y(-^[email protected]@E-qA07fa-Np!8u^VsGe6muIMJmes.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has become increasingly hostile towards LNY92HO%88r)3qURlRsbaqQm100a(TkZdH=stCiJ(bHEvN7pIVLGBTI people. The country’s prime minister last year said LGBT rights would never be accepted by the country.

But, Aziz who has lived in abroad for the last two decades, defended her stance.  “This F=2eBBunM_!xVb#NXi3m!=$^4P%OAbfFueFohK5PJm1G%)dpRNis my Instagram and to each his or her own. Life goes on as usual,” she replied to one Netizen.

She also included the hashtags “far far away,@6k$9%fF3iMl1gY*[email protected](RmBms$ZG^Bv=^9m4Kg)O&uGVo*QLeJ don’t care" and “ok, bye”.

LGBT rights in Malaysia

Gay sex is illegal under British colonial-era la[email protected](#nK%E9_B=k)nD!%e_sl3vxzjziZg(dRVmR#6qYws in Malaysia. Those found guilty face up to 20 years in prison.

In addition to the threat of criQT56B6WkPac+4qoJs1Bvp^)qqLfK&PBM&8EPVqvtw^LM$=W=EBminal prosecution, deep-seated cultural stigmas still face the country’s LGBTI community.

Numerous religious and political figures hzyb(sE^[email protected]%Btg2Spg!JMNmM8UzCI^XW&jdFUMfhr_$zL&g=+(ave consistently whipped up anti-LGBTI sentiments in the Muslim majority country.

The Malaysian authorities have OKeO10-CLWz%Td2jceONDls(wKiSOLmPRs+nQO7QZ38H1l8Xc5also clamped down on the LGBTI community.

In oneA05V5-OMA18oSe^&1bEMl6Xuu3B5P!+RYoVMgwtI5Km7FqkGZ^ of the most controversial instances, in September two women were caned in the heavily conservative state of Terengganu for allegedly being in a same-sex relationship.

Polic49rm-yj07Fp1Cd^2rA8kTkWWJ*0p=(DEJj!NFo_Rx(wW#LzcE*e also raided a well-known gay bar in Kuala Lumpur for the first time in its 30-year history.

In July last year, Afifi stepped down from his role as press officer for the Youth and Sports Minister due to the threats and sx!rr=7O1iq&0!xC([email protected]!FoRbXHnuGCq!S0u(ABPUURY=7&0+abuse he received because of his sexuality.

LGBTI rights activists have repeatedly highlighted the lack of protectio8WuQdZ!6Q8n$XtR50H2Mirkzqc9([email protected]!d8NWo=G=0Jwpo&dfns for LGBTI people.

(Cover photo: Instagram)