World

Women caned for offences under Islamic law

06:44 am on 18 February 2010

Three women in Malaysia have been caned for offences under Islamic law, the first time females have received such a punishment there.

The Home Ministry in Kuala Lumpur says they were convicted by a Sharia court of having extra-marital sex and were each given between four to six strokes of the cane.

Last year, another Malaysian woman was sentenced to caning after being caught drinking alcohol in public. The sentence sparked international criticism.