PETALING JAYA: Sisters in Islam (SIS) have condemned Kelantan’s Islamic Affairs and Religious Department's (Jaheaik) issuance of notices to 39 women, who were found to have "dressed inappropriately" during the fasting month.

It was reported on Monday (May 13) that Jaheaik asked the said women to attend counselling sessions, after the way they dressed was deemed "inappropriate".

SIS criticised Jaheaik's move, demanding that the department stop such operations immediately.

"The obsession to control what women wear needs to stop.

"Not only does this practice humiliate and degrade the value of women, the compulsive need to control what women wears implies that she is mentally, physically and spiritually defective, and a danger to the moral order of society," SIS said in a statement.

It added that the "discussion on how people should dress revolves around the concept of modesty", according to the Holy Quran.

"We urge that Jaheaik make efforts to understand the realities of the community which they serve as a whole, as well as the systemic causes of social ills, which does not stem from how women choose to dress," said SIS.

Jaheaik's Syariah Law Enforcement Division principal assistant director Mohd Fadzuli Mohd Zain said apart from the 39 women, the department had also issued verbal warnings to eight others for acting in a disrespectful manner.

“All the individuals, aged 20 to 40, were given notices to attend the counselling sessions at Jaheaik's office at Balai Islam Lundang, within 14 days of the date of issuance (of the notice).

“We prefer using educative approach rather than punishing. However, we will take stern action if they still fail to comply,” he said when contacted here on Monday (May 13).