DAR AL ISLAM - MALAYSIA: THE 'TOLERANCE' OF ISLAM IS ON FULL DISPLAY IN MALAYSIA, A SECULAR COUNTRY APPARENTLY RULED BY SHARI'AH LAW NOW

Lina Joy: “Freedom of conscience is at risk in Malaysia”

The Christian woman whose conversion the Federal Court refuses to recognise speaks. Yesterday’s sentence practically obliges her to remain a Muslim and to marry a man of her same faith. Malaysian bishop: “An inhuman and uncivil decision”. Other minority religions express their concern. Catholic parliamentarian: “the government needs to clarify all doubts regarding the Constitutions prevalence over Sharia”.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) – “in the current climate in Malaysia is seems almost impossible to exercise freedom of will”. These were the first words spoken by Lina Joy, following yesterdays Federal Court sentence which refused to recognise hr conversion from Islam to Christianity. “I am devastated – she confessed to The Star newspaper – by the fact that the countries highest court is not able to guarantee a simple fundamental human right to its citizens: that of the freedom to choose their own faith and the person they want to marry”.

All of the principal newspapers are carrying the news of the sentence on their front pages today. The case has inflamed public opinion and has thrown the issue of religious freedom in pluralistic Malaysia into discussion. For years now, Lina Joy of Malay ethnic origins has been asking that the word “Islam” be removed from her identity cards (which always state the carriers religious category) first appealing to the local registrar and then to the appeals Court. Only in this way would she be free to marry her fiancé, an Indian Christian. Both of these cases were quashed by the Federal Court which yesterday referred her case to the Islamic courts. But sharia punishes apostates with forced “rehabilitation”, prison and heavy fines. The woman will probably be forced to emigrate in order to be able to live a normal life.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Lina Joy: “Freedom of conscience is at risk in Malaysia”