A Malaysian cosmetics entrepreneur, Nur Sajat, 34, recently made headlines when pictures and videos of her performing the Islamic pilgrimage in Mecca went viral online.
Videos and pictures leaked online
On Sunday, Feb. 2, videos and pictures of Sajat in Mecca, which was posted on her private Instagram account, leaked online.
Here are some of them:
Real, bukan edit pic.twitter.com/nC8SbmxlxA
— keem (@AkeemSharyzal) February 2, 2020
This Sajat and his friends disguising as women and praying in the Holy Qaabah aside those are not mahraam. This cannot be tolerate bu any Muslims not just in Malaysia but all Muslims around the world.@KingSalman pic.twitter.com/Crk7OdrIjP
— Orenji オレンジ Kementerian Kamen Rider Malaysia (@OrenjiRenOren) February 3, 2020
Astaghfirullahalazim. PA sajat tu sah sah jantan. Pergi mekah pakai telekung. Subhanallah. Ya Allah 😣 pic.twitter.com/vAtJYQbf8D
— Yun (@iezninayun_) February 2, 2020
Sajat pergi umrah.. Masa pergi berpakaian lelaki tapi bila sampai Tanah Haram siap berniqab dan bertelekung. Bayangkan dia bersesak-sesak masuk tempat wanita. Allahu. pic.twitter.com/OBcRxIsQ2x
— ISU SEMASA VIRAL (@isusemasaviral) February 2, 2020
A copy of her passport also circulated online showing pictures with the name 'Muhammad Sajjad Kamaruz Zaman'.
The passport also states her gender as male.
https://twitter.com/msxraa/status/1224412593898418176
According to New Straits Times, Sajat, whose real name is Muhammad Sajad Kamaruzzaman, was born a hermaphrodite, but has chosen to identify as a woman.
People who have intersex conditions have anatomy that is not considered typically male or female.
Muslims angered
Many Muslims criticised Sajat for donning the hijab and performing her pilgrimage as a woman, when her identity is stated as a man.
However, there were a few who were ready to defend her, saying that Sajat should not be judged for her choices.
Action taken against her
Minister in Malaysia's Prime Minister’s Department, Mujahid Yusof held a meeting with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on Feb. 3 to discuss Sajat's controversial actions.
Mujahid said via Malay Mail:
‘‘I will take firm step over the action of Sajat who uploaded photos and video of her wearing women’s prayer garments when in Mecca which viraled on the social media and led rise to discomfort among Muslims. Immediate action will be taken by MCMC."
In addition, Mujahid added that he has met up with Albayt Travel, the tourism agency that handled Sajat and her family’s trip to Mecca.
Produced identification of a man
A spokesperson for Albayt Travel said that during the pilgrimage registration, Sajat had produced identification documents stating she was a man.
She also did not state nor inform the agency about being a hermaphrodite.
The agency spokesperson said via Harian Metro:
“If Sajat is indeed a hermaphrodite then it is an issue, as when boarding the flight from Kuala Lumpur, Sajat was still a man. The Malaysian Consulate in Jeddah have also contacted Sajat on this matter before Sajat claimed to have documents from court stating about being a hermaphrodite. But these documents were not highlighted to our agency."
The spokesperson added that the agency has asked Sajat to issue an apology and to delete all the pictures and videos from her social media accounts.
“We have also advised Sajat to be a man throughout the time in the holy land upon arrival in Mecca the day before."
Top images from Twitter Virall/Twitter & Akeem Sharyzal/Twitter.
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