Fight at Melaka mosque was over woman wearing hoodie, say cops

MELAKA: A misunderstanding that escalated into a brawl between a businessman and a security guard at Masjid Selat Melaka here on Tuesday (Oct 21) stemmed from the vendor’s wife’s choice of head covering.

The incident at around 3.20pm went viral on social media after footage of their fight in the mosque compound was uploaded and shared by the public.

Melaka Tengah OCPD Assistant Commissioner Christopher Patit said the 47-year-old man from Kuala Lumpur came to the mosque with his wife to perform Zohor prayers before an argument broke out with the security guard who allegedly did not allow them to enter the mosque area.

According to him, the police report filed by the complainant stated that the security guard reprimanded the couple because the woman was not wearing a headscarf, but the complainant claimed his wife had covered her head using a hoodie.

He said the argument became tense when both parties raised their voices before an incident of pushing and punching occurred in the mosque area, causing the complainant to suffer pain in his shoulder.

“The investigation found that the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding between the two parties.

“It is understood that the complainant had visited the mosque three times and each time he was there, he claimed to have been reprimanded and scolded by the same security guard,” he said in a statement here on Wednesday (Oct 22).

He explained that during the third visit, the reprimand triggered an argument before the incident occurred and went viral on social media.

“However, the complainant subsequently withdrew the report and agreed to settle the matter amicably. The case is classified as no further action (NFA),” he said.