Azhar Abdullah

In civilized society, shoplifting is punished by a small fine and a misdemeanor charge. In Islamic society, shoplifters get a hand chopped off. Malaysia’s Kelantan state recently passed a law that would legalize sharia-prescribed hudud punishments such as amputation, effectively regressing to the 7th century.

Dr. (though hopefully not for long) Azhar Abdullah is a member of the committee on the practice of hudud in Kelantan. During a recent speech to a local university’s Muslim Student Association, Abdullah tried to sugar-coat savagery: “For the Muslim doctor society, they see the punishment as not contradicting to their profession as doctors, to amputate patients and convicted criminals.” He also claimed it was a “responsibility” for Muslim doctors to cut off the limbs of those convicted of certain crimes. The Hippocratic Oath, which all doctors are required to swear before receiving their medical license, demands doctors not harm their patients. While Abdullah’s insistence upon adhering to sharia may make him a good Muslim, it makes him a terrible doctor.

“If they [doctors] are given the mandate, elected by the sultan, then at that time maybe they will choose to resign temporarily while they administer the punishment,” Abdullah said, presenting a convenient work-around for Muslim doctors who want to moonlight as the bloodthirsty sociopaths their religion commands. Of course, Abdullah highlighted the suggestion that the sentenced would be put under anesthesia, as if that somehow makes the ethical issues surrounding hudud disappear.

Speaking of ethical issues regarding hudud, guess what else is soon going to be punishable by extreme mutilation? Drinking, extramarital sex (zina), and anal sex, which are punishable by public lashing. The final phase of the law that is to be implemented includes punishments such as stoning and crucifixion. According to Abdullah, 97% of Kelantan residents interviewed supported the enactment of the hudud law. But remember, Islam is a religion of peace and is no different from any other major faith group. To say otherwise means you’re a racist for opposing a non-racially-aligned belief system.