DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - MALAYSIA: ISLAM RULES ALL EVEN IN A 'SECULAR' COUNTRY

An update on the Malaysian woman that has converted to Christianity from islam, a case that will finally decide on whether or not 'secular' laws are above shari'ah...

The decision is in, ISLAM RULES ALL...


CHRISTIAN CONVERT LOSES CASE

Kuala Lumpur, 30 May (AKI) - Malaysia's highest court has rejected a six year appeal by Christian convert Lina Joy to have her identity officially recognised. The Federal Tribunal ruled that only the Sharia Court could allow Joy, 42, to remove the word Islam from her identity card. "You can't at whim and fancy convert from one religion to another," said judge Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim reading the court's decision on Wednesday.

Lina, who lives as a virtual recluse as a result of the death threats she has received, and is unable to marry her non-Muslim fiance, has never wanted to appeal to Islamic Courts because she is a Christian.

The verdict ends a legal battle that began in 2001 when Lina asked a court to recognise her conversion to Christianity. Born Azlina Jailani, she turned to Christianity when she was 26 and managed to have her name changed in 1999.

The legal battle has catalysed the attention of religious groups in Malaysia and gone well beyond the single case. The verdict has confirmed the predominance of Islam over other religions, a factor which is likely to increase the dissatisfaction of the religious minorities - Christians, Hindus and Buddhists.

Religious differences reflect ethnic differences as nearly 60 percent of the 24 million Malays are also Muslims. The Chinese minority - divided between Christians and Buddhists - and the Indians, who mainly follow Hinduism, have in recent times increased the level of protest demanding greater equality for religious grouping.

As well as considering Islam the state religion, Malaysia, in theory a secular nation - has since the 1970s conceded a series of economic and social privileges to the Malays.


Pertinent Links:

1) CHRISTIAN CONVERT LOSES CASE