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Saturday 6 October 2012

Stay application over Irshad’s book dismissed

The Sun Daily
by S.Tamarai Chelvi

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 4, 2012): An application for stay of investigation and prosecution by Zi Publications Sdn Bhd and its director Mohd Ezra Mohd Zaid in relation to Irshad Manji’s translated edition of “Allah, Liberty & Love” was dismissed by the High Court today.

Justice Datuk Rohana Yusuf made the order after hearing the application in chambers, and fixed Nov 9 for case management.

Nizam Bashir, counsel for Zi Publications Sdn Bhd and its director Mohd Ezra Mohd Zaid, said the judge was of the view that asking for a stay equated to applying for an injunction.

ZI Publications and Mohd Ezra named Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais), its director-general, its enforcement chief, Selangor syarie chief prosecutor, Selangor government and federal government as respondents.

They had filed the judicial review application last July 9 over the May 29 seizure of 180 books and the arrest and prosecution of Ezra.

Meanwhile, Rohana has also fixed Jan 22 next year for the hearing of Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd’s application for judicial review against the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) in relation to Irshad’s translated book.

Berjaya Books filed an application for judicial review on June 18 this year against Jawi, the home minister, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Islamic Affairs.

Borders staff Nik Raina Nik Aziz was charged in the syariah court on June 19 for distributing and selling the book at the Borders bookstore at Midvalley, The Gardens mall.

The charge followed Jawi officials’ raid on two Borders stores in Midvalley and Bangsar Village 2 on May 23 and 24.

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