Khilwa Explained
Khilwa, in Shariah law, is an offense consisting of being caught alone in private with a member of the opposite sex who is not an immediate family member (a state known as khalwat).[1] [2] [3] [4]
For example, in Malaysia in 2009, 197 students "were caught for khalwat" in the state of Kuala Terengganu within seven months. Muslims there who are unmarried, non-relatives of a person of the opposite sex can be apprehended by state religious police under the offence of khalwat (being in "close proximity" as The Star Online described it). Religious Department enforcement officers can conduct "checks, surveillance and raids to curtail khalwat cases," catch "students from secondary schools and higher learning institutes...for khalwat" and advise "youth organisations and student leaders on the bane of committing khalwat."[5]
The prohibition of khilwa in Islam is comparable to that of in Judaism of the equivalent concept of yichud.
References
- News: Saudi man given 150 lashes for unchaperoned meeting with woman. McElroy. Damien. 2008-05-12. The Telegraph. 2017-06-21. en.
- Web site: Saudi Arabia must prevent flogging of teenage girl . amnesty.org . Amnesty International . 28 April 2019.
- Book: Gunmeen Singh. Lifting the Veil: Position of Women in the Gulf Cooperation Council States. 2008-01-01. Saṁskṛiti. 978-81-87374-55-8. 80.
- Web site: Boxed In Women and Saudi Arabia's Male Guardianship System. 2016-07-16. Human Rights Watch. en. 2019-10-21.
- News: 197 students caught for khalwat in schools - Nation The Star Online . 19 August 2018 . The Star Online (www.thestar.com.my) . 27 Aug 2009 . . en . A total of 197 students from secondary schools and higher learning institutes here were caught for khalwat (close proximity) in the first seven months of the year. ...[S]tate Religious Department enforcement officers caught the offenders behaving indecently. The department has also embarked on prevention measures to reduce the menace by creating awareness in schools and colleges.... ...[S]enior officials from the state Religious Department are also in constant contact with youth organisations and student leaders to foster closer relationships and advise them on the bane of committing khalwat. ...[T]he department had also intensified checks, surveillance and raids to curtail khalwat cases in the state. ...[T]he scope of enforcement by the religious department covered checks at hotels, chalets, entertainment centres and recreational parks.. Note that the article does not state what the consequences were for those caught.
