Appendix II: 1982 Fatwa Issued by the National Fatwa Council Prohibiting Sex Reassignment Surgery [209]

Sexual Transplant from Male to Female

Decision: The 4th Muzakarah [Conference] of the Fatwa Committee National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia held on 13-14th April 1982 has discussed sexual transplant from male to female. The Committee has decided that:

1. Sexual change from male to female or vice versa through operation is prohibited by Islamic law
2. A person who is born male remains a male even though he has successfully changed to female through operation
3. A person who is born female remains a female even though she has successfully changed to male through operation
4. However, for a person who was born as a khunsa musykil [intersex] who has two private parts of male and female, it is permitted to undergo operation to retain the most functional private part according to the suitability.