'Islamic university bars forum on hudud'

 

 Participants and panellists attending a planned forum on hudud at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) found themselves barred from the venue, claims PAS.

The university’s security personnel locked the entrance to the hall "at the last minute", alleged PAS Youth's legal and human rights director Noorazmir Zakaria (right) in a statement today.

This was despite preparations and setting up of equipment for the event on Wednesday night having already been made in the hall, he said.

He maintained that the forum’s organisers, the Islamic Revealed Knowledge Students Secretariat, had obtained prior approval from the university’s administration for their ‘Hudud: Understanding before implementation’ event, which was held on Wednesday night.

Undeterred, the organisers proceeded with their event outside the locked venue as the participants had already arrived, laying out mats, said Noorazmir, one of the panellists.

“I would like congratulate the youths for attending the forum that night and would not budge although pressured by the administration.

“It is proof that youths today are familiar with the law and are not pak turut (blind followers) who are frightened by cheap threats,” he said.

Noorazmir also claimed organisers have told him that security personnel had locked the doors because his name was allegedly blacklisted by the police.

He vehemently denied the allegation and said it was merely an excuse given as an afterthought to stop the forum.

He said he has never been accused or charged with any crime, nor was he ever arrested by the police.

“I wish to stress that the excuse given by the UIA administration is a malicious slander mean to insult me.

“I ask that the university show proof that I have been blacklisted by the police in such a manner,” he said.

In addition, he said he was informed that another forum on hudud at the university has also been cancelled, and questioned the university on why it is so fearful of the issue since the subject is taught to Syariah law students at the university.

He added that universities should be places of learning and there should be more forums to help students develop.

Malaysiakini is attempting to contact the university for its response.