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| Malaysian court overturns cross-dressing ban | Malaysian court overturns cross-dressing ban |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three Malaysian transgender women have won an appeal against a religious law banning Muslim men from wearing women's clothing. | Three Malaysian transgender women have won an appeal against a religious law banning Muslim men from wearing women's clothing. |
| Appeals court Judge Mohamad Yunus said the "degrading, oppressive and inhumane" law discriminated against people with gender issues. | Appeals court Judge Mohamad Yunus said the "degrading, oppressive and inhumane" law discriminated against people with gender issues. |
| Gender issues and homosexuality remain taboo areas in Malaysia. | Gender issues and homosexuality remain taboo areas in Malaysia. |
| The appellants' lawyer said the ruling in the deeply conservative country would be "historic". | The appellants' lawyer said the ruling in the deeply conservative country would be "historic". |
| "This will be a precedent. This court binds all other high courts," Aston Paiva was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. | "This will be a precedent. This court binds all other high courts," Aston Paiva was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. |
| All Muslims in Malaysia are subject to Islamic laws, under a double-track legal system. | All Muslims in Malaysia are subject to Islamic laws, under a double-track legal system. |
| Men dressing or acting as women is illegal under those laws, with offenders facing jail terms of up to three years. Some states also forbid women dressing as men. | Men dressing or acting as women is illegal under those laws, with offenders facing jail terms of up to three years. Some states also forbid women dressing as men. |
| The appellants, all Muslims who were born male but identify as women, were arrested four years ago. | The appellants, all Muslims who were born male but identify as women, were arrested four years ago. |
| In 2012, a lower court ruled that they were born male so they had to wear men's clothing. | In 2012, a lower court ruled that they were born male so they had to wear men's clothing. |
| But the three-judge appeal panel in Negeri Sembilan state said the law "deprives the appellants of the right to live with dignity". | But the three-judge appeal panel in Negeri Sembilan state said the law "deprives the appellants of the right to live with dignity". |
| "It has the effect of denying the appellants and other sufferers of GID (gender identify disorder) to move freely in public place," said Judge Hishamudin Yunus. | "It has the effect of denying the appellants and other sufferers of GID (gender identify disorder) to move freely in public place," said Judge Hishamudin Yunus. |
| In September, US-based Human Rights Watch called for a repeal of the gender laws, and said transgender people were subject to physical and sexual abuse by religious authorities and police. | |
| Some people imprisoned under the laws faced further abuses in jail, said the rights group. | Some people imprisoned under the laws faced further abuses in jail, said the rights group. |