They were handcuffed on stage and threatened with harsh punishment under the 'hudud', an Islamic criminal code which specifies stoning for adulterers and amputation for thieves. The fact is, the beauty contestants were not threatened under 'hudud' laws since those laws do not apply and are not even in force. They were charged under the particular state law governing lewdness. He has done nothing to curb the power of local religious bodies in legal matters. Had Matthews bothered to do that bit of ground work required of any journalist, he would have discovered these facts.
Nothing can be farther from the truth.
Just look at his article. Ahmad Faiz bin Abdul Rahman 23 September 1997.