5 naked women held in M'sia mountain rite

5 naked women held in M'sia mountain rite

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Islamic officials have arrested 40 people
-- including five women who were bathing in the nude -- for
performing a midnight spiritual ritual on a mountain in southern
Malaysia, a report said on Tuesday.

The group was led by a self-proclaimed bomoh (traditional
healer) who performed prayers to the spirits of Ledang mountain
in Johor state before going into a trance early Monday, the Star
newspaper reported.

He then showered the naked women with water, a senior official
of the state's religious department was quoted as saying.
"Such beliefs are against Islamic teachings and the department
had to arrest them," Mohamad Asari Tibek said.

He said the group would be questioned for indulging in
"deviationist" teachings and brought before an Islamic syariah
court. They could be fined up to 3,000 ringgit ($789) or jailed
for up to a year if convicted.