Malaysia: Back to square one for transgenders as Federal Court overturns landmark ruling on Shariah law

The Federal Court has overturned the Court of Appeal’s landmark decision declaring an anti-crossdressing Shariah law unconstitutional and void. The five-man bench set aside the judgments made by the High Court and Court of Appeal and the High Court, citing improper procedures used to commence the lawsuit that they said rendered the lower courts’ rulings invalid.

The Court explained that the applicants should have started their legal challenge directly at the Federal Court as the matter involved the Federal Constitution.

The apex court’s decision today will set a precedent on other cases where state Islamic authorities are arguing that fundamental constitutional rights guaranteed to all Malaysians cannot be applied to determine the validity of Islamic laws. Read More via The Malay Mail