TV & Movie / Aug. 25, 2019
Malaysia’s netizens have slammed popular 90s actress and model Azah Aziz V_vzyjuse_W)rkfwF2mXp67C@cvWhQmUrehxA8qMoNJ8X1LbX+after she attended an LGBTI pride parade in Canada.
The 46-year-old uploaded a photo of herself at Montreal Pride last weekDV84y2(Go(VkN#W8-VCXEQ5h6XYjy%(4zk4hMj5yHlD$Ud-nF3. “Share the love, no hate” she wrote.
CommentersTW#yL@(hUsf=t&=C(W$z-42$4a#Dc3RMVwJFSysqGnrr%li+A4 beneath the post called Aziz “sinful” and said she had “abandoned Asian values” according to the New Straits Times.
Muslim-majority Malaysia has become increasingly !Z^NENVq%gHD52vQYW7j!el58OK@%g%&T*1vBYcu^CJKCz3csIhostile towards LGBTI people. The country’s prime minister last year said LGBT rights would never be accepted by the country.
But, Aziz who has lived in abroad for the last two decades, defended her stance. “This is my Instagram and to each his or her own. Life g)W1JWp0(=Fv0Qxbp+vZekbp&U8-TNJit8o**5qbua+*!O$x=ykoes on as usual,” she replied to one Netizen.
She also included thgxq!JsA@_gxvy*tu1#f(O5Asu^^ZYwY3O!PnN31((0b(jGW9h1e hashtags “far far away, don’t care" and “ok, bye”.
LGBT rights in Malaysia
Gay sex is illegal undIPn79+Xf&i#MUsXxCjkW*N$zc%97N$FGsSASYxNmHY^0M)6M0rer British colonial-era laws in Malaysia. Those found guilty face up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to the_Dn2P4SstXn7Drt)G0#z&KjxoNk11Gwb^g4vf7eQK)9(z)LL3j threat of criminal prosecution, deep-seated cultural stigmas still face the country’s LGBTI community.
Numerous religious anGS@bz!qybbk@)78=1a3_xo__aB!-M@tJ8*6zO)TW02vZl8m#OVd political figures have consistently whipped up anti-LGBTI sentiments in the Muslim majority country.
The Malaysia$nwGSxG4we86=NgjqpNUgGG3lH$wwCV9yJ7b3OPLRZmf)qokJjn authorities have also clamped down on the LGBTI community.
In one of the mogRoyK7MGZ+BONVSF*CjyUL+RhL6ncefT1mY@nn*vO_ba3o04TGst controversial instances, in September two women were caned in the heavily conservative state of Terengganu for allegedly being in a same-sex relationship.
Police also raided a well-known gay bar in Kuala Lumpur for the first time in its 30-year hisykfK*5s4nA)iNMg32ECc&SDnvYTALp3wWPD+^LMOXshLLfoCI@tory.
In July last year, Afifi stepped down from his role as press officer for the Youth and Sports Minister due to the threats and abuse he received because of hisWgFqz$@bij4Y=%QEg3ML^+iY&9K8SfB2l_DSrHUANS98zwKC!+ sexuality.
LGBTI rights activists have repeatedly highlighted the lack of protectiyKn315be4$pDMo2^PIEWSvn$kwHvH1UTAbS%CiDwE&5W2y!R*Oons for LGBTI people.
(Cover photo: Instagram)
