Unity minister wants Izwan to heed civil court ruling

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Joseph Kurup says the Muslim convert accused of kidnapping his son must abide by the Seremban High Court's decision, granting child custody to his Hindu ex-wife.

 

Kurup, the de facto unity minister, said if Izwan Abdullah was upset with the court decision, he should instead seek a remedy in accordance to the proper procedures.

 

"The High Court's decision must be obeyed, if the father want custody he should go back to the High Court according to the procedures set out the the civil courts," he told journalists in Kuala Lumpur today.

 

The mother S Deepa alleged her ex-husband had assaulted her and kidnapped their son two days after the Seremban High Court on April 7 granted her custody of her son and daughter, aged six and nine respectively.

 

The tussle was controversial as Izwan, whose original name was N Viran, had converted to Islam along with his children and obtained custody through the syariah court.

 

The incident became the centre of attention after the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar refused to act against Izwan, citing the conflicting decisions by the civil and syariah court and urged them to "talk it out".

 

Contempt of court

 

Kurup said if the matter was settled according to legal procedures, then the conflicting decisions between the civil and syariah court does not arise as it can be resolved in a proper manner.

 

He also urged Deepa to take legal action against her ex-husband after he took away her son despite the Seremban High Court decision.

 

"I hope the mother can take action for contempt of court (against Izwan)," he said.

 

Kurup added he hope Deepa will also take action against Izwan for converting their children without her knowledge and consent.

 

"This is the legal requirement, any question of changing faith (of underage children) should receive the consent from both parents but in this case it was not done.

 

"That is why the High Court took action and it required initiative from the mother," he said.

 

Seremban High Court Judge Zabariah Mohd Yusof had granted custody of the children to S Deepa but said any move to dispute the children's conversion to Islam by the father had to be done in a separate court.

 

Deepa had said she will challenge the conversion while Izwan had justified his action of taking away their son as an attempt to protect the boy's faith.