The Malaysian government said on Thursday that it plans to ban a book by a women's group advocating obedient sex, saying it is counter to Islamic teachings. The Obedient Wives Club advocate subservience to their husbands and have published a book calling for women to have sex with their husbands whenever they demand. The book, titled “Islamic Sex” is in Malay, but not available at local stores in the country. Many say it is read by hundreds of members of the club, a small Malaysian sect that also practices and advocates polygamy. “I am very disturbed by this kind of book, but I don't think the government should be banning it because that only makes it more popular,” said Tina Rinbala, a Kuala Lumpur-based researcher of women's issues. She told Bikyamasr.com that the publication is “horrific and tells women they are lesser beings, which we should fight through education, not banning.” Although the volume contains no explicit images, it does have descriptions of the 56-year-old author's opinions and experiences of marriage. It tells readers how couples should approach sex, claiming that women in marriages only “satisfy” their husbands' needs 10 percent of the time. Malaysian authorities have not said when they would formally ban the book, but people caught in possession of it could be fined up to 5,000 ringgit ($1,600), the official said. Anyone who makes copies of it for sale can be imprisoned for three years and fined 20,000 ringgit ($6,400). Members of the controversial club argued the book was intended to be a spiritual guide read exclusively by club members to help them comprehend sex better. Still, Rinbala disagrees and argued it perpetuates stereotypes that are not “part of Islam” and that “people should be advocating equality and certainly this will deliver better sex for couples.” BM
