July 1, 2008
Malaysian city reminds Muslim women to avoid bright lipstick, high heels
Katherine Dean READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Kuala Lampur, Malaysia - Authorities in a northern Malaysian city are calling on Muslim women not to wear bright lipstick and noisy high-heel shoes if they want to follow the "Islamic way," an official said Tuesday.
The municipal council in Kota Baru, run by a conservative Islamic party, is distributing pamphlets that recommend women refrain from wearing heavy makeup, including bright lipstick, and loud high-heel shoes to work, council spokesman Azman Mohamad Daham said.
"We just distribute pamphlets. Our minimum guideline is they must wear headscarves," he said. "The rest is up to them. If they want to follow the 100 percent Islamic way, it's up to them."
He said the suggestions aim to prevent rape and protect women's dignity and morals. The campaign started in 2006, but new pamphlets are circulated each year, he said.
Kota Baru is the capital of Kelantan state, which is ruled by the conservative opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party.
Katherine Dean is first and foremost your favorite EDGE contributor and Assistant Editor in Grooming, but by day she is a Spanish Interpreter for the schools. She lives with one roommate (Sarah) and one demonic feline (O'Malley). She hopes one day to find fashionable shoes that are comfortable, a pony to ride to work and a cabana boy named Raul to do her biding.
