KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, May 30, 2007: (HPI: Datuk A. Vaithilingam, President of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam, has released a press announcement regarding a recent majority ruling in the Federal Court that affects all religious groups in Malaysia.) “The Malaysia Hindu Sangam is gravely concerned with the Federal Court’s majority decision in Lina Joy’s case. The Federal Court by a 2-1 majority today rejected the appeal by this ethnic Malay (who was born to Muslim parents but says she is now a Christian) for the Government to issue her an identity card without the description ‘Islam’ on it. Lina Joy had argued that the Government’s requirement for her to first obtain a declaration from the Islamic court that she had ‘apostatized’ from Islam was unconstitutional. The decision may have serious personal repercussions for a significant number of persons living in Malaysia who say they are not Muslim but are nevertheless being forced to comply with Islamic laws by the government. We anxiously await a perusal of the full written grounds of judgment to assess the full implications of this decision. In the meanwhile, since the Judiciary appears unable or unwilling to act in these matters, we call on Parliament and all State Legislatures to urgently enact laws that ensure persons who do not profess Islam are not subjected to Islamic law. The fundamental liberty of all Malaysians to profess and practice their faith in peace and harmony must be respected, both in fact and in law.”
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