Media Statement: Halt Establishment of Johor Rehab Centre Targeting LGBT People and Religious Minorities Given Clear Negative Human Rights Impacts

Justice for Sisters (JFS) calls for an immediate review of the Johor state government’s plans to establish a rehabilitation centre targeting LGBT people and individuals deemed “deviant” to Islamic teachings by July 2024. 

The statement on November 29 by state Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairperson Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, indicating an allocation of RM400,000 for the establishment of this centre, raises serious concerns about the potential violation of human rights, including the rights to equality and non-discrimination, privacy, and a life of dignity, free from torture. 

“Detaining people on the grounds of changing their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) undeniably amounts to torture,” says JFS co-founder thilaga s. 

Violation of Federal Constitution

The establishment of the rehabilitation centre is enabled by the criminalisation of LGBTQ people in Malaysia. The criminalisation of LGBTQ people has a systemic impact on all areas of life, including increased vulnerability to further state-sponsored violence, including so-called rehabilitation.  

However, it is important to note that the criminalisation and any form of effort to change a person’s SOGIE of LGBTQ people is a violation of human rights safeguarded under both the Federal Constitution and international human rights law. 

The rehabilitation centre directly violates Article 5 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia, which safeguards the personal liberty, privacy and dignity of all Malaysian citizens. It also violates Article 8 of the Federal Constitution which safeguards equality before the law and prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender.

In addition, the Federal Court in a constitutional review of Section 28 of the Selangor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment, which criminalises sex against the order of nature, found the law unconstitutional on the grounds of lack of legislative competency. This decision applies to all similar state laws. Therefore, all liwat, sex against the order of nature, and even musahaqah state laws have no legal effect, although they remain in state syariah enactments. 

As such, arresting people under these laws and subjecting them to fines, imprisonment and state-mandated rehabilitation violates a range of provisions in the Federal Constitution, not limited to Part 2 of the Federal Constitution that safeguards our rights.  

As a signatory to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Malaysia is required to ensure that there are no discriminatory laws or practices against women in all spheres. In 2018, the CEDAW Committee called Malaysia to not only amend all laws which discriminate LBTI women, including the provisions of the Penal Code and Syariah laws that criminalise same sex relations between women, but also discontinue measures which aim to ‘correct’ or ‘rehabilitate’ LGBTI persons. 

More harm than good

Major global medical and human rights organisations have widely discredited and condemned conversion practices, recognising them as not only lacking any scientific basis, but also as unethical and extremely harmful to the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of individuals involved. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) are among the bodies that have called for a ban on conversion practices, and for the media to expose them to promote respect for diversity. 

“Based on our survey with LGBTQ people in Malaysia, these practices result in long-term severe impacts, including negatively impacting their mental health, dropping out of schools and suicidal ideation and attempts,” says thilaga.

JFS is concerned that these state-led efforts will further increase the trust deficit in public institutions, creating more barriers for LGBTIQ people’s access to redress and services such as healthcare, over concerns of being reported or sent to rehabilitation centres or subjected to other SOGIE-change efforts. 

A 2023 JFS et al survey involving 156 respondents found that as many as 66% (103) have faced pressure to change their SOGIE, while 10.9% (17) were offered SOGIE-change efforts during their lifetime. Of these 17 respondents, 12 (70.6%) were assigned Islam at birth, while 11 (64.7%) identified as transgender or non-binary persons. 

SUHAKAM’s research found that 18% of trans and intersex respondents reported that whilst accessing healthcare services, healthcare professionals have suggested religion or other forms of therapy to “cure” their gender identity. The same research also found that 15% of respondents were forcibly sent to mental health professionals for their SOGIE and 9% were forced to consult religious authorities.

Key recommendations 

JFS strongly urges the Johor state government to halt its plans to establish the rehabilitation centre. We also urge SUHAKAM, as the national human rights institution, to engage the Johor state government in a review of its plans given its severe human rights impact, and to conduct a human rights impact assessment of rehabilitation centres and similar state-sponsored SOGIE-change initiatives.  

KENYATAAN MEDIA: Hari Peringatan Transgender: Perlindungan Polis penting dalam menangani keganasan terhadap individu trans dan pelbagai gender

Pada setiap 20 November, bersempena dengan Hari Peringatan Transgender atau Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), kami memberi penghormatan kepada individu transgender dan pelbagai gender yang telah kehilangan nyawa disebabkan oleh keganasan berasaskan gender. Individu pelbagai gender tidak semestinya merupakan transgender, namun dilihat sebagai transgender atau sebahagian daripada komuniti LGBT berdasarkan kepada cara mereka mengekspresikan diri dan gender mereka. 

Kepentingan TDOR kini menjadi lebih besar dan mendesak daripada sebelum ini. Di peringkat global, antara 1 Oktober 2022 sehingga 30 September 2023, sejumlah 320 individu trans dan pelbagai gender telah dilaporkan meninggal dunia kerana dibunuh, menurut Trans Murder Monitoring Update 2023.

Di Malaysia, sekurang-kurangnya empat kes telah didokumentasikan bermula pada Januari dan November 2023 menerusi pengawasan media dan pelaporan komuniti, dua kali ganda daripada angka pada tahun sebelumnya.

• 26 Januari 2023 – seorang transwanita di Kuala Lumpur ditemui/mati di rumahnya setelah hilang selama tiga hari. Pihak polis mengesyaki terdapat unsur jenayah kerana terdapat bungkusan makanan di atas meja dan pintu rumahnya tidak dikunci.

• 8 Jun 2023 – seorang transwanita ditemui mati di rumahnya sendiri di Selangor. Walaupun si mati tampak seperti telah membunuh diri, lebam telah ditemui pada badan, muka, dan lengannya. Polis telah menahan seorang suspek, namun kesudahan kes tersebut masih tidak diketahui. Ahli keluarga si mati telah bersuara di ruang awam untuk menuntut keadilan bagi kematian anak mereka. Kes tersebut telah dilaporkan di media berbahasa Tamil.

• 4 Julai 2023 – seorang transwanita di Kuala Lumpur telah ditemui mati di rumahnya, berpakaian lengkap beserta dengan solekan.

• 10 Oktober 2023 – seorang transwanita telah ditemui mati di lorong pejalan kaki di Johor. Polis melaporkan terdapat kesan trauma akibat serangan senjata tumpul di kepala dan dadanya. Pihak polis tidak mengesyaki terdapat sebarang unsur jenayah bagi kes itu.

Kes-kes tersebut, serta kes sebelumnya jelas menunjukkan kerentanan transanita terhadap keganasan berasaskan gender. Pekerja seks transwanita terutamanya paling mudah terdedah kepada keganasan oleh klien mereka. Penjenayahan identiti gender transwanita serta kerja seks menyebabkan mereka menjadi lebih rentan dan terdedah kepada keganasan di samping menyukarkan akses mereka kepada sistem pengadilan. Di dalam dua kes, pihak polis, keluarga serta kawan mengesyaki pasangan kekasih sebagai pelaku jenayah.

Walaupun pihak polis melaksanakan penyiasatan bagi kes-kes tersebut, terdapat jurang dalam cara kes tersebut dikendalikan yang menjurus kepada ketidakadilan bagi pihak keluarga.

Jurang tersebut terlihat dalam:

• Penafian elemen “jenayah berdasarkan kebencian” (hate crime) Pembunuhan seorang transwanita baru-baru ini di Johor merupakan satu contoh keputusan pramatang yang menafikan kemungkinan jenayah berdasarkan kebencian.

• Kapasiti dalam menganalisa dan menyiasat jenayah berdasarkan kebencian serta kes-kes keganasan berasaskan gender yang teruk terhadap individu trans dan pelbagai gender. Pada Oktober 2023, Mahkamah Tinggi Penang membebaskan lima lelaki yang terlibat dalam kes pembunuhan T. Nhaveen berdasarkan alasan pembuktian yang tidak konsisten. Hakim telah berkata di media “Pihak polis gagal melakukan penyiasatan secara adil bagi kes ini.” Perbicaraan tersebut juga telah dilaporkan tertangguh berikutan isu kertas kerja dan hanya bermula pada Mei 2021.
  
  Pada tahun 2017, Nhaveen meninggal dunia beberapa hari setelah diserang dengan kejam. Dia diserang kerana ekspresi gendernya tidak mengikut norma maskuliniti masyarakat. Penyerang-penyerang di dalam kes tersebut, sebahagiannya merupakan bekas rakan sekelas Nhaveen, mempunyai sejarah melakukan buli dan keganasan – termasuk keganasan seksual – terhadap Nhaveen berdasarkan ekspresi gendernya. Walaupun Jabatan Peguam Negara Malaysia akan membuat rayuan untuk keputusan tersebut, keluarga Nhaveen terus dilanda kesengsaraan berikutan ketidakadilan tersebut.
  
• Penggunaan bahasa yang mesra trans dan gender. Di dalam kes jenayah berdasarkan kebencian, pihak polis merupakan sumber utama maklumat, dan cara mereka menghuraikan individu trans mempunyai kesan kepada cara media melaporkan kes tersebut. Ini dijejaskan lagi oleh taraf yang rendah bagi pelaporan berita yang berkaitan dengan komuniti trans. Media telah berulang kali menggunakan bahasa yang tidak manusiawi apabila merujuk kepada individu trans, seperti pondan, dan dengan sengaja menggunakan gender yang salah, menyebabkan orang ramai mempunyai persepsi individu trans tidak bernilai seperti individu lain. Amplifikasi ini mempunyai kesan yang mendalam dalam meningkatkan diskriminasi terhadap individu trans serta penyebaran budaya keganasan terhadap trans tanpa batas disebabkan oleh penyisihan, penjenayahan, dan ketiadaan perlindungan.

TDOR merupakan kesempatan bagi kita semua untuk merefleksi cara untuk mengubah keadaan dan memperjuangkan undang-undang yang melindungi individu trans dan pelbagai gender daripada diskriminasi. Kami mengesyorkan pihak PDRM untuk membabitkan diri serta belajar daripada negara ASEAN lain dalam usaha mereka untuk menangani keganasan berasaskan gender terhadap individu trans, LGBTIQ, dan pelbagai gender. Pada tahun 2018, Polis Nasional Filipina (PNP) telah melancarkan LGBT Help and Protection Desks di seluruh balai polis negara tersebut.

+++

MEDIA STATEMENT: Transgender Day of Remembrance: Police protection is key in addressing violence against trans and gender-diverse people

Every year on November 20, in conjunction with Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), we honour transgender and gender-diverse people whose lives were lost in acts of gender-based violence. Gender-diverse people include gender non-conforming people, who may or may not be transgender but are perceived as transgender or LGBT people based on the way they express themselves or their gender expression. 

The significance and urgency of TDOR now are greater than it has ever been. Globally, between 1 October 2022 and 30 September 2023, 320 trans and gender-diverse people were reported murdered, according to the Trans Murder Monitoring Update 2023. 

In Malaysia, at least four cases were documented between January and November 2023 through media monitoring and community reporting, double the previous year’s figures. 

• 26 January 2023 – a trans woman in Kuala Lumpur was found dead in her home after missing for three days. The police suspected foul play, as there was packed food on the table and her door was unlocked. 

• 8 June 2023 – a trans woman was found dead in Selangor in her own home. Although her death appeared as a suicide, bruises were found on her body, face, and arms.  Police apprehended a suspect, although the outcome of the case is unknown. Family members spoke out publicly, seeking justice for the death of their daughter. The case was reported in the Tamil media.
  
• 4 July 2023 – a trans woman in Kuala Lumpur was found dead in her home. She was fully clothed and in make-up. 

• 10 October 2023 – a trans woman was found dead in a pedestrian tunnel in Johor. The police reported blunt trauma to her head and chest. The police ruled out foul play. 

These, and previous cases reveal a trend in the vulnerability of trans women to gender-based violence. Trans women sex workers are especially vulnerable to violence by their clients. The criminalisation of both trans women’s gender identity and sex work increases their vulnerability to violence with impunity while restricting access to redress. In two cases, the police, family, and friends suspect the intimate partner as the perpetrator. 

While the police do carry out investigations in these cases, the gaps in the way these cases are handled result in a lack of justice and closure for family members and loved ones. 

These gaps include:

• Ruling out elements of ‘hate crimes’. The recent murder of a trans woman in Johor is an example of prematurely omitting the possibility of a hate crime. 

• Capacity in analysing and investigating hate crimes and severe cases of gender-based violence against trans and gender-diverse persons. In October 2023, the Penang High Court acquitted five men of T. Nhaveen’s murder due to inconsistencies in the evidence. The judge was quoted in the media saying “The police have failed to conduct investigations into this case fairly.” The trial was also reportedly delayed over paperwork and only began in May 2021. 

In 2017, Nhaveen died a few days after being brutally assaulted. He was assaulted because his gender expression did not fit the masculine standards of society. The assailants, some of whom were his former classmates, have a history of bullying and violence – including sexual violence – against Nhaveen based on his gender expression. While the Attorney General Chambers’ (AGC) office will be appealing the decision, the family members continue to suffer from the lack of justice for Nhaveen. 

• Use of trans and gender-affirming language. In cases of hate crimes, the police are the main source of information, and the way they describe trans people has a ripple effect on how the media reports the case. This is exacerbated by some media’s already poor standards in reporting trans-related news. The media has repeatedly used dehumanising language when referring to trans people, such as pondan, and deliberate misgendering, which contributes to the public perception that trans and gender-diverse lives are worth less than others. This amplification has a far-reaching effect in increasing discrimination against trans people and propagating a culture of anti-trans violence with impunity due to exclusion, criminalisation, and lack of protection. 

TDOR is an opportunity for us all to reflect on how we can change these conditions and advocate for laws that protect trans and gender-diverse persons against discrimination. We urge the PDRM to engage and learn from the other countries in ASEAN in responding to gender-based violence against trans, LGBTIQ, and gender-diverse people. The Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2018 launched the LGBT Help and Protection Desks in police stations nationwide.