Desecration of Holy Quran: Punjab PA panel approves bill

In a legal case in Pahang, Malaysia, a 21-year-old man named S. Vikneswaran was sentenced to 12 months in prison and fined RM250,000 for desecrating the Quran and posting offensive content on social media. The court ruling was handed down by Judge Harmi Thamri Mohamad after Vikneswaran pleaded guilty to both charges. The prison sentence is to begin on November 12, with an additional 12 months added if he fails to pay the fine.

The judge stated that the punishment aims to not only punish the accused but also to serve as a warning to others against committing similar offenses.

Lawyer Muhammad Amirull Afiqq Mohamad Lokman, representing Vikneswaran, requested a stay of execution pending an appeal, citing his client's upcoming psychiatric treatment appointments. However, Pahang State Prosecution director Mohd Sabri Othman opposed the application, emphasizing that there were no exceptional circumstances to justify granting the defense's request. Consequently, Vikneswaran commenced serving his prison sentence on the same day.

According to the charges, the accused desecrated a sacred object, the Quran, with the intention of insulting Islam in Jalan Gambang, Taman Seri Mahkota, Kuala Lumpur, around 1:30 pm on February 22. The offense is punishable under Section 295 of the Penal Code, which can result in up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. The second charge alleged that Vikneswaran posted a grossly offensive communication via his Threads account "ryandaselva," intending to cause distress to others.

This charge falls under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which is punishable by a maximum fine of RM500,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, along with an additional RM5,000 fine for each day the offense persists after conviction.

The incident came to light when Vikneswaran's father, the complainant, was informed by his daughter on February 24 about a viral video on Threads showcasing the accused's actions. Upon learning of the video, the complainant contacted Vikneswaran, who admitted to being the individual depicted. Investigations revealed that the act occurred at a residence in Taman Seri Mahkota Aman, Kuala Lumpur, and police arrested Vikneswaran at 3:30 pm on February 25.

Police confiscated his mobile phone and a copy of the Quran for further investigation. Social media analysis and reports from telecommunications companies confirmed that the account and phone numbers used belonged to Vikneswaran and his family.