After a Hindu wedding in Selangor and a Chinese funeral in Penang, Islamic authorities have now raided a Malay wedding in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan.

However, the Sunday raid had nothing to do with religion but rather over gender and clothes.

According to The Malay Mail Online, the state Islamic authorities detained 17 transgenders for violating a Shariah law ban on cross-dressing.

The women, most of whom make-up artists, were guests at a "joget lambak" session - a traditional Malay dance party - after the wedding.

Quoting an activist, the news portal said the 17 were charged and sentenced yesterday under Section 66 of the state’s Shariah Criminal Enactment 1992.

This was despite the law currently under constitutional review in the Court of Appeal.

The report stated that sixteen of them, all first-time offenders, were fined RM950 and jailed seven days each while failure to settle the fine in seven days, would lead to their jail sentence increased to six months.

One of those arrested was a minor and the state Islamic authorities have referred her for counselling.
 
"The authorities arrested them and got them to the court yesterday morning.

"All of them were very naive about the law, so they pleaded guilty under Section 66," said transgender activist Nisha Ayub.

"We are now trying to get lawyers in order to reduce their sentences," she added.

It was also reported that Transgender rights group Justice for Sisters (JFS) has started a donation drive to cover the bail.

"They will be sentenced to a male prison, head shaved. Psychological impact is high," said the plea by JFS on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Nisha said the family, whose wedding the women attended, have lodged a report with the police against the state Islamic authorities for raiding a private property.

"They were angry, because all those who were detained were known to them," she was quoted as saying.