(ANSA) - KUALA LUMPUR, 25 FEB - A Malaysian today won the first legal battle in the country against Islamic laws that prohibit sexual relations between gays.
This is a "historic" verdict according to gay activists in Malaysia, which represents a "monumental" step forward in the fight against the persecution of the LGBT community.
The man, whose identity was not disclosed, was accused by an Islamic court in 2019 of trying to "have sex against the order of nature".
In Malaysia, Islamic courts deal with some issues concerning Muslim citizens (about 60% of the population) and sharia laws are established by individual states.
In the specific case, the man had been tried by a court in the state of Selangor, which prohibits gay sex.
However, local laws cannot conflict with federal legislation and sodomy, even if it is a crime at the national level, is rarely prosecuted.
In its ruling, the country's High Court then took action in favor of the man who filed the appeal, ruling that the law in question of the state of Selangor is illegal.
(HANDLE).