The appointment of two female judges to the Selangor Syariah High Court yesterday breaks prevailing prejudices against women, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said.

She said the appointments of Noor Huda Roslan and Nenney Shuahidah Shamsuddin are in line with Islamic tradition, where the advent of Islam put an end to female infanticide and introduced inheritance and rights of women in marriages in the Arab world.

"The appointment by Sultan Sharafudin Idris Shah must be lauded as it shows the sultan's awareness of syariah court issues, especially involving the role of women and the implementation of justice.

"The appointments reject negative perceptions and prejudice against women in their ability to perform roles previously monopolised by men," Zuraida said in a statement today.

She also urged other states to follow suit by appointing more female judges in their Syariah High Court.

"It is in line with Islam that women are given the chance to further their education and be involved in decision making in the highest levels... nationally and internationally," she said.

Noor Huda, 40, and Nenney Shuhaidah, 41, were appointed according to Subsection 58 (1) and Section 59 (1) of the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Selangor) Enactment 2003.

Seven women were also appointed syariah lower court judges in Selangor yesterday.

Selangor Syariah Chief Judge Mohd Na'im Mokhtar reportedly said the women were not chosen for their gender, but for their capabilities.

The first female syariah court judges were appointed in 2010.

In 2006, the National Fatwa Council ruled that women can be appointed as syariah judges but cannot rule in cases involving hudud and qisas (the penalty for murder).