Malaysia sharia court allows Muslim to renounce Islam

Thursday 08th May, 06:13 PM JST

KUALA LUMPUR —

An Islamic court in Malaysia made a landmark ruling Thursday in allowing an ethnic Chinese woman, who became a Muslim after converting from Buddhism, to renounce Islam and return to her former religion. The Sharia High Court in Penang state allowed 38-year-old Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah, known as Tan Ean Huang before she converted to Islam and changed her name in 1998 in order to marry an Iranian, to renounce Islam on grounds that she had never practiced Islamic teachings.

Apostasy, considered one of Islam’s greatest sins, is punishable by imprisonment or a fine under sharia or Islamic law in Malaysia, and converts to other faiths are sometimes sent to ‘‘rehabilitation’’ centers where caning is used to force them to recant. The ethnic Chinese woman had in 2006 sought a court order to be allowed to renounce Islam as her Iranian husband had left her four months after they were married. She told the court she had never practiced Islamic teachings and that she still went to Buddhist temples and continued to eat pork, which is forbidden in Islam.

‘‘It is clear that the plaintiff does not practice Islamic teachings since the beginning and the court rules that the plaintiff is no longer a Muslim,’’ Sharia High Court Judge Othman Ibrahim was quoted as saying by Malaysia’s official news agency Bernama. The judge chastised the local Islamic council for failing in its duty to ensure converts follow the tenets of the religion.

Emotional debates rage between those who espouse freedom of religion and secularism and those who believe Malaysia should put on a more Islamic face with stricter Islamic laws and punishments.

12 Comments

smithinjapan at 07:14 PM JST - 8th May

While I don't think Islam is the crime of the death penalty many posters on here seem to attribute the mere word 'Mulsim' to, I think it's a great thing being done here. Again, 'Islam' and 'Muslim' are not words to automatically associate with crime and/or terrorism, but judging the desire to change religions from them to something else is, or should be. Good for Malaysia -- it continues to be a place of a religious mix we could all benefit from examining and perhaps even follow to some extent. The idea of putting stricter laws of one religion above all others should not be allowed here, and it's very wise of the government to realize that. Malaysia is an amazing place to travel to and experience based largely in part on its mix of backgrounds and culture, and it would be a shame if it became yet another freely elected democracy that backlashed against the current bush regime spreading 'freedumb' around the globe.
skipthesong at 07:22 PM JST - 8th May

smitty: just the mere fact of having such laws and to boot putting people in rehab doesn't bother you?

and this too? "Emotional debates rage between those who espouse freedom of religion and secularism and those who believe Malaysia should put on a more Islamic face with stricter Islamic laws and punishments." It is now 2008, is there any country that has outlawed religion (I know which one, but other than that)
super delegate at 07:30 PM JST - 8th May

"it would be a shame if it became yet another freely elected democracy that backlashed against the current bush regime spreading 'freedumb' around the globe."

Chiefly because "backlashing" against America would mean Malaysians are incapable of thinking for themselves, and must have spent all of their time and energy obsessing aboat a country thousands of miles from where they live, one not really exercising the influence upon their everyday lives that excitable folk elsewhere in Asia like to believe.

Malaysia exhibiting a religious mix we could all supposedly benefit from?

Malaysian citizens do not benefit equally:

"In Malaysia, the "jizya" is disguised. It is called the "Bumiputra" ("Sons of the Soil"), and it supposedly was intended to help the indigenous Malays. But the indigenous tribes, the real Malays, are Christianized. In fact, the "Bumiputra" system helps only the Muslims in Malaysia. By its terms, those who are Chinese or Hindus (i.e., non-Muslims) must include in all of their economic undertakings, as equal partners, Malaysian Muslims. So, for example, if two Malaysian Chinese were to open, say, an architectural office, they would have to take on as a full partner a Malaysian Muslim, who would receive a share even if he contributed little or nothing to the enterprise.

"And steadily, state by state, Malaysia is introducing more and more Islamic features into its social and political life. Anwar Ibrahim (he of the famous "trial") makes Mahathir Mohamed (he of the rants against the "Jews" and the speech to the O.I.C. in which he called upon fellow Muslims to embrace "progress," which he then defined entirely in terms of military technology and other means to defeat the Infidels and spread the banner of Islam) seem "moderate."

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/004973.php
skipthesong at 07:40 PM JST - 8th May

And steadily, state by state" that's not just in Malaysia either.
SuperLib at 09:23 PM JST - 8th May

it would be a shame if it became yet another freely elected democracy that backlashed against the current bush regime spreading 'freedumb' around the globe.

Shaking my head -- If I had trolled in a smear against Canada on this thread it would have been pulled. The lattitude this petty little Canadian gets in his posts is absolutely astounding. He's above any and all rules on Japan Today, and I'm guessing I'm not the only one curious about that.
Sarge at 09:42 PM JST - 8th May

"Islamic law"

Does that take precedence over Christian law, Hindu law, Buddhist law or atheist law?
Zaphod at 11:22 PM JST - 8th May

Sarge:

" "Islamic law" Does that take precedence over Christian law, Hindu law, Buddhist law or atheist law? "

If muslim clerics have their way, yes. What that leads to, you can admire in Saudi-Arabia and Iran.

Malaysia tries to have it both ways, with Shariah courts for muslims and secular courts for non-muslims. Of course, where both systems clash, you have a conflict, and in Malaysia typically muslim law gets priority.

That it did not in this case is remarkable. But please note: The women was Chinese and converted to islam, so in this case they allowed her to opt out again. They would never do that in case of a Malay (who are muslim by law).
nimbus at 03:21 AM JST - 9th May

If this woman were born a muslim she would be in "rehab" and be caned till she embraced Islam "freely" again.
adaydream at 04:06 AM JST - 9th May

I'm glad she was allowed to convert.

I'm glad I'm in America.
bjones at 06:25 AM JST - 9th May

Why should anyone fear what goes on in someone else's mind and soul as long as it doesn't hurt others. If you don't want to believe in a Santa Claus for example-how can someone make you? You would just be lying if you were forced. What's in it for them either way?
Nessie at 10:08 AM JST - 9th May

I'm glad I'm in America.

Because that's the only country without penalties for apostasy.
presto345 at 07:51 PM JST - 10th May

Malaysia. Beautiful tropical oasis. Housing a lot of modern day industries. But also an inquisition. Talking about anachronisms.