Beer-Drinking Model Gets Ramadan Caning Reprieve

A Muslim model sentenced to caning for drinking beer in Malaysia has been granted a reprieve during the holy month of Ramadan, Reuters reports. The caning will be carried out in late September, officials said. Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, a mother of two who lives in Singapore, was arrested while drinking a beer in a hotel lobby in Panang; she demanded that her punishment be carried out in public.

Her case has drawn widespread criticism over increasingly harsh Islamic punishments in the traditionally moderate nation. It appeared for a time that she was being freed, but later became clear that the sentence was merely postponed. "I am shocked but I remain steadfast with my decision," said Kartika.  "All I want now is to know my true situation and do not treat me like a football." (More caning stories.)