Transgender Malaysians just scored a landmark victory

Malaysia's Court of Appeal ruled Friday that transgender Muslims have a right to cross-dress.

The three-judge panel ruled that Section 66 of the Syariah Criminal (Negri Sembilan) Enactment 1992, which "criminalizes any man who dresses or poses as a woman," is unconstitutional, according to The Raykat Post.

The judges ruled that clothing is "a form of expression," which is guaranteed by Malaysia's constitution. They added that Malaysia's state legislative assemblies, including Negri Sembilan, "have no power to restrict freedom of speech and expression."

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The Seremban High Court had previously dismissed the case of the plaintiffs, three transgender Muslims who were born male. They then appealed to the Court of Appeal to challenge the law's constitutionality. --Meghan DeMaria

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