'Islamic Sex' manual faces ban in Malaysia

A controversial manual by the head of an Islamic sect that teaches wives obedient and submissive sex faces a ban from the Malaysian government, with those in possession paying a hefty price for it. The 115-page "Islamic Sex," written by the founder of the Obedient Wives Club, contains passages on how couples should physically and spiritually approach sex. UK's The Guardian quoted a spokesman for the home ministry as saying the government's Islamic affairs department has recommended a ban after studying the manual, on grounds that it may confuse Malaysian Muslims about what constitutes acceptable religious teaching. People caught in possession of the book could be fined up to 5,000 ringgit (P68,877), while anyone who makes copies for sale could be imprisoned for three years and fined 20,000 ringgit (P275,509). The book claims most women only satisfy 10 percent of their husbands' sexual needs. Club leaders, who believe a wife should serve as a "good sex worker" and a "whore" to her husband, showed the book to journalists last month to dispel misconceptions that it was obscene and demeaning to women. They said the book, which contains no explicit photographs, was intended to be a spiritual guide read exclusively by club members to help them better understand sex. But many Malaysians denounced the club, which they said makes a mockery of modern gender roles in a country where women hold prominent posts in government and the private sector. The Guardian said the club is believed to have at least 800 members in Malaysia and has branches in Indonesia, Singapore, Jordan and Britain. Many members are in polygamous marriages, insisting the practice helps husbands to avoid committing adultery. Eve for Adam Rohaya Mohamad, 46, the club's international vice-president - and a mother of eight, claimed Eve was created "because Adam had needs." "Men have [sexual] needs which they can't control. And if the needs are not fulfilled, men will find another woman. God created them like that," she said in an interview with Malaysia's The Star. She said one reason the club was started was because not all women are trained to be good in bed. "We want to teach them how to perform better than a first-class prostitute," she said. “You ask him first what he likes, then you ask yourself what you like. You can’t have two heads in the house," she added. Darlan Zaini, co-founder of the Singapore club, added that in Islam, "if the husband wants sex and the wife is not in the mood, she has to give in to him. If not, the angels will curse her. This is not good for the family." Rohaya is a high-flying businesswoman with Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd, a multi-million-ringgit company with businesses in Australia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. She studied medicine at the University of Wales in Cardiff. She is the third wife of Mohamad Ikram Ashaari, 45, son of the late Al-Arqam founder Ashaari Mohamad. Obedient Husbands Club? When asked about starting an Obedient Husbands Club, Rohaya said she would ask her husband. “I will ask my husband if he wants to start one," she said. — TJD, GMA News