TV & Movie / Aug. 25, 2019
Malaysia’s neayCHHVdeW&hW(i&FUsNmCxT&8PJZq04aA_1llY7iCiCuEA3&Uotizens have slammed popular 90s actress and model Azah Aziz after she attended an LGBTI pride parade in Canada.
The0e3Hb9P=6jJl*A#5^Qi+K6=EqDs5*dICAoul(uJ$u)MIw51Nh( 46-year-old uploaded a photo of herself at Montreal Pride last week. “Share the love, no hate” she wrote.
Commenters beneath the pocp8=0KMIuiAO51HPBnq9(1rTvnAI7XGjkbVPYs3Df7-qWab6lSst called Aziz “sinful” and said she had “abandoned Asian values” according to the New Straits Times.
Muslim-majority Malaysia ha=$($BDS&s-RX=cpmlwhaV)vt8ZO+rk4#eL(v9sTYWZUBRZAY8gs become increasingly hostile towards LGBTI people. The country’s prime minister last year said LGBT rights would never be accepted by the country.
But, Aziz who has lived in abroad for th!n6zedwp0CZxkSgEH&693tb#^XCmz%ZdRvhLJDboaMpiz@uLsoe last two decades, defended her stance. “This is my Instagram and to each his or her own. Life goes on as usual,” she replied to one Netizen.
She also included the hashtags “far far away, don’t4(#fN*rVqqM+7JW(bhwr0JnC*B(sSHv)pouY6GeO!m@w@dEvzf care" and “ok, bye”.
LGBT rights in Malaysia
Gay sex is illegal under BrpD4HYbPnsGtq_SaRlxLmGkbeSLrGfH7^yPJj=38IfpJo5YxThpitish colonial-era laws in Malaysia. Those found guilty face up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to the thr-A(6af5Ez3YXn2kSr0smNMdM%#j#tFO$M1aRoFx_F#Yl=a(+zdeat of criminal prosecution, deep-seated cultural stigmas still face the country’s LGBTI community.
Numerous religious and political figures have consistently whi12_HQr$&ieK$0Uucc-^!)U46h^T=O)wDvIV#$cOKmmKK9inb_npped up anti-LGBTI sentiments in the Muslim majority country.
Th9m7C+#n6JgJeFmVCDapGjwDBf$%pBGJz#lUznLTfUBN%mHUd)ke Malaysian authorities have also clamped down on the LGBTI community.
In one of the most controversial instances, in SepteUN_!GG=6VnkL+ve39NA0Y0hX3^PLzn-hPRsy(pYxyb)FmTQ0pYmber two women were caned in the heavily conservative state of Terengganu for allegedly being in a same-sex relationship.
Police also r&WmNoQwJgVIRNIB%B+7dar3wizjdmt&Plj820fhVsd&8d8vCK=aided 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 abuse he reoyJPchcF+hDCD^J(i+bv1+^sdMV+-Y!#klWcoDFH+W4sL1+@viceived because of his sexuality.
LGBTI rightz1(ZKw1a#22NC3GNr0^*l4E)djC5tYLX6&mII1IaR^5fqUAk8rs activists have repeatedly highlighted the lack of protections for LGBTI people.
(Cover photo: Instagram)
