MALAYSIA CHOSEN AS MEMBER OF IPHRC

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been chosen to fill one of
the six seats contested for the Asia Region for the Independent Permanent Human
Rights Commission (IPHRC) at the 38th Session of the Council Meeting of Foreign
Ministers of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Kazakhstan.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday that Indonesia, Pakistan,
Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan were IPHRC's other members for the region.

Malaysia nominated Associate Prof Dr Raihanah Abdullah from the Department
of Syariah and Law, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya to be in
IPHRC's group of experts.

The ministry attributed the selection of Dr Raihanah to her extensive
experiences and expertise in handling issues related to Islamic law and gender
equality.

Her selection was also in line with the OIC's proposal to encourage women’s
participation in the establishment, the statement said.

The meeting was held in Astana from June 28-30.