No date yet for Catholic woman Halimah's appeal

GEORGE TOWN: The Syariah Court of Appeal has yet to fix the date to hear the appeal of an Indonesian Catholic woman's move to prove that she cannot be tried for khalwat (close proximity).
Penang Legal Aid Centre consultant Cecil Rajendra, who is holding a watching brief for the woman, told reporters today that the charge against Halimah, 42, should be withdrawn because the Syariah Court has no jurisdiction over a non-Muslim.
He pointed out that under Section 74 of the Islamic Administration Enactment (Penang) 2004, no decision of the Syariah Court may involve any of the rights or property of a non-Muslim.
"It is beyond doubt that she is a non-Muslim," he said in a press conference today.
Halimah, a worker at a traditional medical treatment centre, was charged with committing close proximity with a male customer on Dec 8, 2011, at 11.40am at Jalan Siang Tek.