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Christian Proselytizers Face Government Hurdles in Largely Muslim Malaysia |
| Section: CULTURE / CULTURE CLASH |
| Author: Ioannis Gatsiounis |
| Publication:
The World & I Online |
| Issue Date: 1/1/2005 |
| Size: 1,236 Words, 8,103 Characters |
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In multiethnic Malaysia, where Islam is the official faith but freedom of religion is guaranteed under the constitution, the majority Malays are born Muslim and apostasy is all but impossible for them. Cases of aspiring apostates are handled by Shariah courts, rather than civil courts. According to the Qur'an, apostasy is grounds for death, and no Muslim should assist another out of the religion. So the appeals usually sit, and sit.
Many would-be apostates don't live to see their conversion officially recognized. Some have been jailed. As one religious scholar put it, "In Malaysia, there's a way into Islam, but no way out."
Although proselytizing of Muslims by non-Muslims is forbidden, the reverse is permissible. Non-Muslim proselytizers have been sent to jail under the Internal Security Act (...
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...ist arrived here, only Christians were able to view it. Non-Christians were weeded out in the ticket line on the basis of their national ID cards, which states one's religion.
Nora Murah, a legal officer with Sisters in Islam, says the decision contradicts the prophet Muhammad's teachings. "The prophet embraced diversity and inclusiveness," she said.
© 2004 News World Communications Inc.
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Publication Details
(The World & I Online) |
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The World & I Online is a
comprehensive academic resource that encompasses a broad range of
articles by scholars and experts in the areas of Global Studies,
Liberal Arts, Fine & Applied Arts, General Science, and Spanish.
Originally published monthly in print as The World & I, our site
includes the complete contents since 1986 and continues to publish
a new issue online each month. |
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