Malaysia bans women from wearing men's clothes !

The National Fatwa Council has ruled that tomboyism, where a girl behaves or dresses in a boyish manner, is forbidden in Islam.

Its chairman, Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said the decision was prompted by recent developments as there had been cases of young women inclined to behave like men and indulging in homosexuality.

"It is unacceptable to see women who love the male lifestyle including dressing in the clothes men wear," he complained, adding, "(Masculine behaviour) becomes clearer when they start to have sex with someone of the same gender, that is woman and woman."

"In view of this," Dr Abdul explained, "the National Fatwa Council which met today have decided and taken the stand that such acts are forbidden and banned."

Male homosexuality - specifically sodomy - is illegal in Malaysia and punishable with up to twenty years in jail. Accusations of sodomy have twice been levelled against the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in what he says are politically motivated attempts to destroy him.

However, lawyers say there is no provision banning lesbian sex in Malaysia's civil code. The latest fatwa appears to be an attempt to push lesbianism towards illegality.

In addition to civil courts, Malaysia operates a parallel Sharia system which has jurisdiction over the country's Muslims.

Islam is multi-ethnic Malaysia's official religion and is practised by 60 per cent of the population who are ethnic Malays. Some members of the ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities complain about rising conservatism in Malaysian Islam.

Women's dress is a particular preoccupation for religious authorities.

In July a provincial city issued guidelines urging women to avoid lipstick and high heels.

Malaysian media have reported on recent incidents of school bullying among girls, which have been caught on film and circulated on the Internet. In one film, some girls are seen beating up another girl in a bathroom.

A well-known Malaysian Muslim actress caused an uproar last year when she shaved her head bald for a film. Harussani and other muftis urged Muslims not to watch the movie, arguing that the actress had violated Islam by making herself look like a man.

"Muallaf," or "the convert," is scheduled for release in Singapore next month, but no date has been set for its release in Malaysia.

It was not immediately clear what kind of punishment awaited those who violate the tomboy edict, or "fatwa." Malays generally follow the council's "fatwas" out of deference, but violators rarely get into trouble unless the edict is incorporated into national or Shariah law.


Tomboy ?

From Wikipedia

Tomboy is a girl who behaves according to the gender role of a boy.[1]

This social phenomenon typically manifests itself through some of these characteristics:

* The wearing of typically masculine-oriented types of clothes.

* The practice of games and activities (often physical in nature) that are typically considered to be the domain of boys.

* Heterosocially, the preference to befriend boys rather than other girls.


How to Be a Tomboy

Do you feel confined by the chains of femininity? Are you horrified at the thought of spending more than two seconds in front of a mirror? Not every girl wants to be glamourous, and sometimes she just wants to be one of the guys. Here's how to step outside the box and be a tomboy.