KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Several protesters walked through the city centre denouncing the National Fatwa Council's decision against tomboys.

The protesters yesterday claimed that Muslim women should have the right over how they want to express themselves or dress.

Under the edict announced by the council on Oct 23, girls are forbidden to sport short hair and dress, walk and act like boys, due to recent cases of young women behaving like men and indulging in homosexual behaviour.

"Gender expression, identity and orientation are different things altogether.

"Why is the woman's body always the battlefield of society's morality?" said the spokesman for the group.

The protesters, comprising women from two groups and several men, marched from Jalan Ampang to KLCC.

They chanted slogans such as 'Stop oppression against women' and 'Short hair, who cares?' while handing out pamphlets to passers-by.

Other small posters read 'Tomboy is not a crime' and 'Stop controlling clothing and thoughts of the rakyat'.

The protesters dispersed shortly after security personnel at KLCC told them to move away.

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