Fears over rise of Sharia law in Malaysia as transgender florist, 27, is hacked to death, shot and mutilated while two men stood trial for a SEPARATE incident in which she was tortured and raped in 2015 

  • Sameera Krishman was brutally murdered in the the city of Kuantan, Malaysia
  • The 27-year-old was knifed and shot before her body was mutilated by attackers
  • Activists claim she was targeted for being transgender amid rise of sharia law
  • It came as two men faced trial over a separate attack on her in 2015 in which she was kidnapped, raped and tortured

A transgender florist was hacked to death, shot and mutilated in Malaysia while two men faced trial for a separate incident in which she was tortured and raped, it has emerged.
Sameera Krishman was brutally murdered in the city of Kuantan, eastern Malaysia, the day before her 28th birthday.
The attack came as two men were due to appear in court accused of a separate attack two years ago in which she was kidnapped, raped and tortured.
Although a motive for the killing has yet to be revealed, campaigners say she was targeted for being transgender amid fears over the rising influence of sharia law in the country.
Sameera Krishman (pictured) was brutally murdered in the the city of Kuantan, Malaysia, the day before her 28th birthday
Transgender florist Sameera Krishman (pictured) was hacked to death, shot and mutilated in Malaysia while two men faced trial for a separate incident in which she was tortured and raped, it has emerged
Transgender florist Sameera Krishman (pictured) was hacked to death, shot and mutilated in Malaysia while two men faced trial for a separate incident in which she was tortured and raped, it has emerged
Shocking photos show her body covered with a white sheet as medics were working at the scene
Shocking photos show her body covered with a white sheet as medics were working at the scene
Krishman was repeatedly knifed and shot after going out to buy some food on February 23. Her dead body was then mutilated by her attackers.
Shocking photos show her body covered with a white sheet as medics were working at the scene. 
Meanwhile, two men are standing trial over an attack on the 27-year-old in 2015.
She was only rescued from that ordeal when police checked a car that had been involved in a minor accident and found her tied up on the back seat, according to The Star.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reports activists as pointing to the rise in Malaysia of sharia law, under which even cross dressing is illegal.
This means that Muslim transgender people 'can be arrested and prosecuted simply for stepping outside of their house wearing the clothes that they believe reflect their true gender,' said 
Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division said Muslim transgender women in Malaysia 'can be arrested and prosecuted simply for stepping outside of their house wearing the clothes that they believe reflect their true gender.'
The attack on Krishman (pictured) came as two men were due to appear in court accused of a separate attack two years ago in which she was kidnapped, raped and tortured
The attack on Krishman (pictured) came as two men were due to appear in court accused of a separate attack two years ago in which she was kidnapped, raped and tortured
The attack on Krishman (pictured) came as two men were due to appear in court accused of a separate attack two years ago in which she was kidnapped, raped and tortured
The newspaper said a sermon from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department in 2014 warned that confusion of identity 'bring disaster or the punishment of Allah'.
Surgeons are said to be increasingly fearful of offering gender reassignment surgery for fear of reprisals - though the procedure can be carried out in Malaysia.
Human Rights Watch said in a 2014 report that Malaysia was 'one of the worst countries' in the world for transgender people.
Transgender is the umbrella term for individuals who identify with a gender different to their sex at birth.
While there are no official figures for Malaysia, transgender women are commonly seen -especially in the capital Kuala Lumpur - working in restaurants and retail outlets.
But violent attacks remain an ever-present threat. 
Activist Nisha Ayub said she had endured virtually everything thrown at Muslim-majority Malaysia's repressed transgender community including contempt, violence, arrest and sexual assault in a prison where she was sent to become a 'real man'.
She attempted suicide, beaten down by strict Islamic laws that activists say subject transgender people to increasing legal constraints, discrimination and marginalisation.
'The way they treat you is like you don't have any rights, you don't have any dignity,' said the 37-year-old in an interview last year. 
In 2000, just 21-years-old, she was arrested by the feared state religious enforcers who swoop on Muslims suspected of 'un-Islamic' behaviour.
Krishman was repeatedly knifed and shot after going out to buy some food. Her dead body was then mutilated by her attackers
Krishman was repeatedly knifed and shot after going out to buy some food. Her dead body was then mutilated by her attackers
Human Rights Watch said in a 2014 report that Malaysia was 'one of the worst countries' in the world for transgender people
Human Rights Watch said in a 2014 report that Malaysia was 'one of the worst countries' in the world for transgender people
A sharia court - which handles civil-religious matters involving Muslims - jailed her for three months under an anti-crossdressing law.
Nisha said she had fully transitioned to a woman by then, although like many in the transgender community she did not disclose details which are considered private. However, she was sent to a men's prison. 
Bald-shaven, she was mocked and repeatedly made to bare her breasts for other inmates. Once, several prisoners forced her to perform sex acts on them.
She attempted suicide in prison, and again after release. Traumatised, she drifted briefly into sex work, like many others in her situation.  
But violent attacks remain an ever-present threat. One recent assault left a transgender woman in a brief coma, Nisha said. The attacker was fined just 400 ringgit (£75). 
Many transgenders fear seeking police help over abuses, she said.  
Many keep their sexuality private even from their families and a 2015 HRW report said discrimination against such groups was 'pervasive'.