Human rights advocates and politicians are standing up against Malaysia's strict homosexuality laws after two Muslim women were caned Monday for same-sex relations. 

The two unidentified women, ages 22 and 32, were arrested by Islamic officials in April, after they were caught engaging in sexual activity in a car. They pleaded guilty, were punished with a 3,300 Malaysian Ringgit fine, and sentenced to caning, BBC reports. 

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Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia under colonial sodomy law and can warrant a 20-year prison sentence. This was reportedly the state’s first public caning and conviction for same-sex relations. 

Islamic laws have become stronger and stricter in Malaysia recently. In the country Muslims must follow Islamic law while those with other religious beliefs abide by civil law. Under Malaysian civil law, caning women is illegal but allowed in some states that enforce sharia religious laws. The Sharia High Court in the state of Terengganu caned the women six times in front of 100 people. 

The Malaysian group Women’s Aid Organization said it was “appalled by this grave violation of human rights,” according to Reuters. "Sexual acts between two consenting adults should not be criminalised, let alone punished with whipping."

Politicians weren’t shy about voicing their objections, either. Charles Santiago, a Malaysian Member of Parliament representing Klang, called for laws that end the criminalization of homsexuality on social media. Khairy Jamaluddin, Rembau’s Member of Parliament, tried to spread Islam’s tolerant values. 

We need to stop targeting the LGBT community. We need to stop invading their privacy. We need to stop abusing them. We need to grow up as a society and learn to embrace diversity.

— Charles Santiago (@mpklang) September 3, 2018

Banyak lagi cara untuk menangani isu LGBT. Walaupun termaktub dalam undang2, tak wajar dilaksanakan sebatan di khalayak ramai. Islam teaches us to look after the dignity of every human being. And that mercy is preferable to punishment. https://t.co/FqkTqeoZeA

— Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) September 3, 2018

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Syariah High Court Judge Kamalruazmi Ismail said caning under Islamic law is not meant to cause pain, but to serve as a lesson, according to The Star. 

Malaysia’s LGBTQ community needs advocates to help protect their safety as the government poses a serious threat to their well-being. In August alone, a minister had portraits of LGBTQ activists removed from a public exhibit, a transgender woman was violently attacked, and 20 men were charged for ‘illicit behavior’ during a gay club raid.