SIS dragging Islam to court, says minister

 

NGO Sisters in Islam (SIS), which had been banned by religious authorities through a fatwa, is dragging Islam to the civil court by filing a judicial review against the fatwa, a minister said today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom in a statement said that the High Court had previously rejected a challenge on a fatwa in 2010 on grounds that it cannot intervene in Islamic affairs.

"In 2010, the High Court rejected an application by some sides who tried to challenge a fatwa on the ESQ Leadership Centre Sdn Bhd issue as it ruled it didn't have the jurisdiction to hear cases regarding fatwa and syariah," he said.

SIS was banned from disseminating its views through a fatwa issued by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) in July for promoting "liberalism and pluralism".

The fatwa also bars other entities from spreading anything published by SIS, and is being challenged by the NGO via a judicial review.

Meanwhile, Jamil Khir (left) asked religious authorities from all states to join hands in overcoming the "resistance" against Islam from people "who have agendas outside Islam."

"It is important for Muslims to be wary of such understandings to protect Islam. Islamic institutions like state religious councils should work together to face the new form of resistance against Islam," he said.