Malaysia Appoints Female Shariah Judges

The Miami Herald reports that Malaysia has appointed its first female judges in its Shariah courts:

"Suraya Ramli and Rafidah Abdul Razak, formerly officials at the government's Islamic judicial department, were named Shariah court judges for Kuala Lumpur and the administrative capital of Putrajaya in May, but the appointment was only announced in the past week by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib said the step was meant to "enhance justice in cases involving families and women's rights" in Malaysia, where nearly two-thirds of the country's 28 million people are Muslims.

Norhayati Kaprawi, a prominent Malaysian Muslim women's activist, said the appointments were long overdue.

Female judges are common in Malaysia's secular courts, though most top posts are held by men."

You can read the full article here.