Nenney Shushaidah Binti Shamsuddin made history last year when she became one of two women appointed as Syariah (Sharia) High Court judges. The announcement of her appointment follows the 2006 edict of Malaysian religious authorities that, like Indonesia, Pakistan, and Sudan, they would allow women to serve as Syariah judges. Nenney hopes that as more women take the judge’s bench, public perception regarding a woman’s ability to serve in the position will change. She says that many people believe male judges rule harshly in women’s cases, but that they also think female judges will be too lenient. On the bench, Nenney wants to prove that gender is irrelevant. "When I'm on the bench, I'm not a woman, I'm not a man,” she said. “I'm a judge.” Global Citizen campaigns on issues of gender equality, including work and education opportunities. You can take action here to support gender equality. Malaysia’s court system is comprised of a two tiers. The one in which Nenney serves as judge presides over cases dealing with Islamic law, while the other handles secular issues. Although Nenney is one of two women serving as High Court judges of Islamic law, 27 of Malaysia's 120 Islamic court judges, including lower court judges, are women. Shareena Sheriff, from Sisters in Islam, a Muslim women's advocacy group in Kuala Lumpur, said that although allowing female judges is definite progress, it does not necessarily mean the treatment of women in court will change.