TV & Movie / Aug. 25, 2019
Malaysia’s netizens have slammed popular 90s actress and model Azah Aziz after she attendedbwaS3R1OOD52nnmPETI7tt34Bj__f0Gw-WnkG-_)NKB%!kejJg an LGBTI pride parade in Canada.
The 46-year-old uploaded a photo of herself at Montreal Pride last week. “Share thOHy2^^QvV_#gHWZnX2#G9DqF%e%=JVYGyE&0fN&$$xoVG+_gIie love, no hate” she wrote.
Commenters beneath the post call(l-Vs_6hy$+G!4RLyH*Os^iZ+Le0eM-VGUR731nNj@h_43_!Cyed Aziz “sinful” and said she had “abandoned Asian values” according to the New Straits Times.
Muslim-majority Malaysia has become increasingly hostile towards LGBTI people. The country’s prime minister last year said LGBT rights wG&+n4RzCiMmrap#2OJ&CJmn8DBLAlF$qy=r6ykL9DJ&KN*u33eould never be accepted by the country.
But, Aziz who has lived in abroad for the last two decades, defended her stance. “This i!UN^pUU2olazzY%VKlSQgEu-WeT#MJq1v2BsOo6w9Ca)MIpUv%s 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’t care" and “ok, byepJOxfpqlcb+uVtJpexu1)amZb0c#T5FkF7ZZI$7YVfvk(CZfP9”.
LGBT rights in Malaysia
Gay sex is illegal under British colonial-era laws in MalaysicYw%zmTnMs)jEauFp_T)G^wZatE+mnCd=1uK!x=LhWpdeQo0x&a. Those found guilty face up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to the threat of criminapX64ey059LOD)CxPAm2UlzHTLX$z2^7U_^wR5Miy+9N!rBU-#Ul prosecution, deep-seated cultural stigmas still face the country’s LGBTI community.
EPKMA+na2TU!634*4IWErN1i4%vDhtzlhebtECrKcf#C$JT*HdNumerous religious and political figures have consistently whipped up anti-LGBTI sentiments in the Muslim majority country.
The Malaysian authorities have als_vv^cZn*kHxxYR6O#9%(vld4Lsn60qFT551QuUAe+%_F=sshJBo clamped down on the LGBTI community.
In one of the most controversial instances, in September two women were caned in the heavily conservative state of Te(x*7T01=))-yfGG@TvHHxswKf_CnWb1F#MM8AIMGvF)&)_d1_erengganu for allegedly being in a same-sex relationship.
Police also raided a well-known gay bar in Kuala Lumpur for the first time in its 30-year histh^gBJO9BAQ(g)40auKZrwGTJs5M_l&rJ2#odKPh)YopohB@(==ory.
In July last year, Afifi stepped down from his role as press officer for the Youth and Sports Minister due to the threats and abuse he q6mUj$+c!xMPi4=JA4@A4P5geZ$3Y$biNp*J1b3G^Ju$R0Yejbreceived because of his sexuality.
LGBTI rights activists OowCxJcoR9tkV89Ivd%hKW64&v9o$F@xCEKWInYIEkr4_z2GAzhave repeatedly highlighted the lack of protections for LGBTI people.
(Cover photo: Instagram)
