11/10/2006

News / Malaysian religious police slip up

Kuala Lumpur (dpa) Malaysian authorities on the northern island of Langkawi have issued an apology to an American couple after anti-vice religious authorities stormed into their home in the middle of the night and accused them of improper behaviour, a news report said Friday.

American tourist Randal Barnhart, 62, and his wife, Carole Joanne, 61, were fast asleep when six officers from the state's religious department pounded on the door of their rented apartment last month.

The officers demanded to see Barnhart's ``woman,'' following which they demanded that the duo produce their marriage certificate as well as travel documents before agreeing to leave.

The religious department in mainly Muslim Malaysia is empowered to enter the homes of Muslims suspected of having sexual relations outside of marriage.

An enraged Barnhart lodged a report demanding an apology, a letter pledging that the couple would not be bothered anymore and compensation of 4,315 ringgit (1,166 dollars) to cover the cost of the airplane ticket to send the traumatized Joanne home to the United States, the New Straits Times daily said.

Barnhart said that he was satisfied with the apology issued by the tourism board but said the religious department had yet to answer his complaints, it said.

He had earlier threatened to cancel plans to retire in Malaysia and accused the religious department of misusing its power.

State religious departments have often come under fierce criticism for the overzealousness of its officers in staking out deserted parks and even apartments to nab suspected sexual offenders.

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