CAN Islamic authorities raid churches and bookstores even though they are non-Muslim entities and summon non-Muslims for questioning? Does the syariah court have jurisdiction the moment Islam or a Muslim is involved? Ding Jo-Ann examines the constitutional issues.
Syariah Court
“Syariah court has no legitimacy for non-Muslims”
By Ding Jo-Ann
Corrected 11.35am on 25 Aug 2010 ON 20 Aug 2010, a three-person bench of the Court of Appeal unanimously denied the application of S Kaliammal, the widow of Mount Everest climber M Moorthy, to determine her late husband’s religious status. Moorthy passed away on 20 Dec 2005 after entering into a coma. Just before his […]
Kartika’s protest
By Jacqueline Ann Surin
ONE thing is really clear about Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarnor in the video Mencari Kartika, produced and directed by Norhayati Kaprawi: Kartika, who was sentenced to be whipped, fined and imprisoned for drinking beer because she was a Muslim, was angry at the syariah system that had sentenced her. It is a startling revelation, because […]
Conversion
By The Nut Graph teamTHE late Malcolm X did it, and he’s a hero. Amina Wadud did it, and people call her a freak. “It” being converting to Islam. And as African Americans, Malcolm and Amina did it in the belief that Islam offered them spiritual liberation and justice. People convert to different religions all the time. Who can […]
No right to inheritance
By Deborah LohPETALING JAYA, 8 July 2009: There is no avenue for a deceased Muslim convert’s next-of-kin to lay claim to his or her estate, as civil laws like the Distribution Act 1958 do not apply to the Muslim deceased, lawyers said. Instead, the estate goes to the Muslim treasury, Baitulmal, which is meant to distribute the […]
“Non-Muslims have no locus standi”
By Deborah LohCorrected on 30 June 2009 at 7.50pm SHAH ALAM, 23 June 2009: The non-Muslim family members of Mohan Singh a/l Janot Singh cannot be a party to the dispute over his body as the core issue of his religious status at the time of death can only be determined by the Syariah Court, the High […]
PKR’s Zulkifli slams Gurdwara Council
By Zedeck SiewPETALING JAYA, 4 June 2009: PKR parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin has slammed the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council for its statement criticising the syariah courts. “What people like (Malaysian Gurdwaras Council president) Jagir Singh need to do is to start learning to respect decisions of the Syariah Court, even if it is not in one’s favour,” said Zulkifli […]
Media barred from covering ‘mutaah’ hearing
KOTA BARU, 21 April 2009: The Syariah High Court here today issued an injunction to bar the media from covering the “mutaah” hearing involving Melor assemblyperson Wan Ismail Wan Jusoh and his ex-wife Siti Aishah Chou Abdullah. The judge, Abdullah Man, said the injunction also covered disseminating and publishing media coverage throughout the proceedings between […]
No plan to amend Article 11: Nazri
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Feb 2009: The Dewan Rakyat was told today that the Federal Court’s decision in the case involving Azlina Jailani or Lina Joy showed that a Muslim cannot renounce Islam at will. As such, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said, the government had no plan to […]
Siti Fatimah apostasy case postponed
PENANG, 4 Dec 2008: The appeal sought by the Penang Islamic Religious Council against the Syariah High Court decision allowing Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah to renounce Islam has been set for hearing on 7 and 8 Jan next year. The Penang Syariah Court of Appeal fixed the new date today to allow Siti Fatimah, 39, […]
