Releasing sex video is haram, say Muslim scholars

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 — Muslim scholars have condemned the distribution of the alleged Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sex video as haram, against Malay culture and “illegal and unethical anywhere around the world.”

The Malaysian Ulama Association (PUM) also said that those calling for the 21-minute video to be screened in Parliament are “suffering from a cancer of rubbish politics that is rotten.”

“This trend of trying to degrade and spread slander is not the norm for Malay Muslim culture. Moreover, it is illegal and unethical anywhere around the world. Recording, possessing and distributing the video is clearly haram in Islam,” said its secretary general Mohd Roslan Md Nor in a statement today.

Calls for the mysterious “Datuk T” trio to be arrested have grown louder, especially from Anwar’s PKR, since the 21-minute video emerged two weeks ago.

A 107-second snippet surfaced on the Internet on Sunday, just two days after police said the video was not doctored.

It made public part of the video that was only screened to select individuals and reporters prior to this but the clip has since been taken down from YouTube for violating its policy on nudity and sexual content.

Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, one of the Datuk T men, said yesterday that he did not know where the snippet came from and that the only copy of the video was with the police.

However, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar denied today that the clip came from the police.

PKR has claimed that the clip proved the man in the video was not their de facto leader and repeated their demand that the trio be arrested for pornography.

Former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, businessman Shazryl and Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim have claimed responsibility for the video, saying they screened the video to show “a man who wants to be prime minister is not qualified.”

Opposition Leader Anwar has denied he is the man in the video and accused Umno of a politically-motivated “scurrilous attack” on him.

The involvement of former Umno Youth chief Abdul Rahim has lent credence to the claim as Umno sought to distance itself from the video.

Mohd Raslan also lashed out at those calling for the video to be screened in Dewan Rakyat as it insulted the august house.

“Dewan Rakyat, which is supposed to be a forum for debating motions and national issues, is now being turned into a pornography theatre. Those using the immunity of MPs as an excuse to watch the sex video are suffering from a cancer of rubbish politics that is rotten,” he said.

The scholar accused these politicians of doing anything for power.

Lawmakers from both sides of the divide, including DAP chairman Karpal Singh and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, had supported the screening of the video in Parliament should Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia see it fit.

However, Pandikar rejected the idea today, stating that rules and regulations of the house had to be adhered to.

PUM also called for the home ministry to take necessary action against those who have spread the video as it has clearly run afoul of the law.

It also asked for the Council of Rulers to intervene in the matter.