KUALA LUMPUR — A Malaysian religious court sentenced five men on Thursday to jail, caning and fines for attempting gay sex, media and a rights group said.
Sodomy and same-sex acts are illegal under Islamic law in Muslim-majority Malaysia, although convictions are rare.
The Selangor Shariah High Court, on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital, sentenced four men to six months' jail, six strokes of the cane, and a 4,800 ringgit ($1,163) fine for "attempting intercourse against the order of nature", the Malay-language daily Harian Metro reported.
A fifth man was sentenced to seven months' jail, six strokes of the cane and a 4,900 ringgit fine for the same offense.
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Islamic enforcement officers detained the five accused with seven other men during a November 2018 raid on a two-story apartment, Harian Metro reported, citing judge Mohamad Asri Mohamad Tahir.
"The facts show that there was an attempt to carry out intercourse outside of the order of nature and that it was not in the early stages of preparation," Mohamad Asri was quoted as saying.
Reuters could not reach the judge for comment and calls to the Selangor Shariah High Court went unanswered. A lawyer for the men did not respond to a request for comment.
Malaysia is home to 32 million people, where ethnic Malay Muslims make up more than 60 percent of the population.
It has a dual-track legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws applicable to Muslims running alongside civil laws.
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Numan Afifi, president of sexuality rights' group Pelangi, said the sentencing was "outrageous" and could create an environment of fear within the LGBTQ community.
Numan, who attended the court hearing, said five other men arrested with the accused will also be sentenced on Nov. 19.
The case comes amid concerns around growing intolerance toward the LGBTQ community in Malaysia in recent months.
In September 2018, two women were caned for "attempting lesbian sex" in the east coast state of Terengganu.
Earlier this year, a minister and other Muslim groups protested after LGBTQ activists attended a march for International Women's Day.
