THE late Malcolm X did it, and he’s a hero. Amina Wadud did it, and people call her a freak. “It” being converting to Islam. And as African Americans, Malcolm and Amina did it in the belief that Islam offered them spiritual liberation and justice. People convert to different religions all the time. Who can […]
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi’s search goes on
BETWEEN 27 April and 3 May 2009, the Tamil papers continued to devote space to M Indira Gandhi’s quest to get her daughter back from her estranged and Muslim-convert husband. The absence of Tamil-language classes in a local university, and land right issues involving the Catholic Church were also highlighted during the week. Hunt for […]
Cabinet’s conversion decision opposed (Updated 12.35am)
(Updated 30 April 2009, 12.35am) KUALA LUMPUR, 29 April 2009: The coalition of Muslim non-governmental organisations known as Pembela has described the cabinet decision against unilateral conversion of minors as “knee-jerk” and “lacking in sense”. “The decision only temporarily alleviates the anxieties of one party, but creates more anxieties and questions for other parties,” Pembela […]
Amending laws will resolve conversion issue (Updated 7.36pm)
(Updated 28 April 2009, 7.36pm) PETALING JAYA, 28 April 2009: Amending laws to stop the unilateral conversion of children to Islam will pave the way to resolving other thorny issues when a family member converts, the Bar Council said today. Urging the government to move swiftly on amending laws to enforce the cabinet’s recent directive […]
Get views from muftis first, govt urged
IPOH, 24 April 2009: Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria has urged the government to get views from the Malaysian Mufti Council before making any decision regarding Islam to avoid confusion. He said the government decision that a child’s religion must be in accordance with the common religion of the parents at the time of […]
Decision on conversion raises questions
(Family silhouette by jayofboy / sxc.hu) ON the surface, the cabinet’s decision to stop unilateral conversions to Islam by one parent is a welcome resolution. But questions remain as to whether it can be effectively implemented. One issue is whether a cabinet opinion is enforceable in a court of law when there are no legal […]
Cabinet bars forced conversion of children
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 April 2009: The uncertainty over forced conversion of children is finally being put to rest — the cabinet has decided that in the event of any dispute, a child must be raised in the faith professed by both parents at the time of marriage. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri […]
Group to appeal to Council of Rulers over conversions
KUALA LUMPUR, 22 April 2009: The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) will appeal to the Council of Rulers to help resolve the unilateral conversions of minors to Islam. “We call on the rulers to see that justice and fair play is done,” said MCCBCHST president Datuk A Vaithilingam at […]
State policy on unilateral conversions
PETALING JAYA, 21 April 2009: The DAP wants the cabinet to discuss the issue of unilateral conversion of children to Islam by one parent, and for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to issue a policy statement about it. DAP national adviser Lim Kit Siang said the issue was an old one, and the failure […]
