By The Associated Press (CP) – 6 days ago
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysian woman lost a court battle Wednesday to nullify her conversion to Islam when she was a child, but vowed to fight on to be recognized as a Hindu.
The interfaith dispute could further anger non-Muslims who have long complained that their religious rights are being sidelined in Muslim-majority Malaysia, and may erode minority support for the government.
Malaysia's secular High Court ruled it had no jurisdiction to hear the case as Banggarma Subramaniam is a Muslim and should refer to the Islamic Shariah court, said her lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung.
Banggarma has said she and her three siblings were under the care of a government orphanage in northern Penang state when she was converted to Islam by welfare officials in 1989 when she was seven years old.
She ran away when she was 16 and got married two years later in 2001 in a traditional Hindu ceremony. When she returned to the home to collect her identity card and other documents, she was given the Muslim conversion certificate which listed her name as Siti Hasnah Vanga-rama Abdullah.
She has been unable to register her marriage or name her husband as the father of their two children in their birth certificates as she is listed a Muslim. Banggarma's husband must convert to Islam to legally wed her as marriage between Muslims and non-Muslims is not allowed in the country.
Banggarma said she was disappointed with the court ruling and planned to take the case to the Appeals Court.
"Why must I be forced to accept Islam?" Banggarma said. "I was born an Indian, a Hindu and I remain so until I die. They have no rights over me."
The welfare department claims Banggarma was converted in 1983 by her father and that she must go to the Shariah court to verify her status.
Gooi, however, said her conversion certificate was dated 1989 and that under Penang Islamic laws, minors below 18 cannot be converted to Islam without the consent of their parents.
Malaysia has a dual court system with civil courts for non-Muslims and Shariah courts for Muslims. In interfaith disputes involving Islam, the Shariah courts typically get the last word, which has upset non-Muslims who fear they cannot get justice in such courts.
If she renounces Islam, Banggarma risks being charged with apostasy, which in Malaysia — as in many Islamic nations — is regarded as a crime punishable by fines and jail sentences. Offenders are often sent to prison-like rehabilitation centres.
Minorities are increasingly becoming worried that their rights have become subordinate to those of ethnic Malay Muslims, who form nearly 60 per cent of Malaysia's 28 million people.
The unhappiness over racial discrimination erupted in an unprecedented street protest three years ago by tens of thousands of ethnic Indians. The demonstration emboldened the minorities into voting against the government, which returned to power with its worst performance ever in the March 2008 general elections.
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Do yoga without mantras, Malaysian PM to Muslims
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said Muslims in this south-east Asian nation can continue to practice 'yoga' as long as they avoided chanting 'mantras'.
Abdullah's remarks come after a ruling by this Muslim-majority country's National Fatwa Council that yoga was 'haram' (forbidden) as it involved chanting which was against Islamic teachings and that people could deviate from Islamic faith if they performed yoga which has its roots in Hinduism.
"I wish to state that a physical regime with no elements of worship can continue, meaning, it is not banned. I believe that Muslims are not easily swayed into polytheism," Abdullah told national news agency Bernama.
The Council's verdict shocked Muslims who performed yoga, with many protesting through letters in the newspaper that the ancient form of exercise had helped them keep fit and had in no way made them deviate from their faith.
Abdullah urged everyone to understand the content of the yoga fatwa and not twist facts which could cause confusion among the public, Bernama said.
He said Muslims who performed yoga exercise and did not chant any mantra could carry on with their activity as it was good for their health. He added that non-Muslims in this multi-ethnic country should not feel hurt or slighted by the announcement of the yoga fatwa as it was only applicable to Muslims.
Malaysia has a majority Muslim population with 60 per cent following the faith, while ethnic Chinese mostly Christians and Buddhists formed 25 per cent and ethnic Indians, a majority of them Hindus comprise 8 per cent of the country's 26 million population.
Yoga is very popular across the country with several studios offering classes. Gyms too offer regular yoga lessons.
"What I understand from the decision of the National Fatwa Council is that it was aimed at explaining to Muslims the implications of yoga practice." Abdullah said adding that the yoga fatwa would only be implemented after getting the consent of the Conference of Malay Rulers.
Decisions by the Fatwa Council are not legally binding on Malaysia's Muslims until they are enshrined in national laws or Shariah laws of individual states.
Recently, the Fatwa council also ruled that girls who behaved like tomboys was unislamic.
Abdullah's remarks come after a ruling by this Muslim-majority country's National Fatwa Council that yoga was 'haram' (forbidden) as it involved chanting which was against Islamic teachings and that people could deviate from Islamic faith if they performed yoga which has its roots in Hinduism.
"I wish to state that a physical regime with no elements of worship can continue, meaning, it is not banned. I believe that Muslims are not easily swayed into polytheism," Abdullah told national news agency Bernama.
The Council's verdict shocked Muslims who performed yoga, with many protesting through letters in the newspaper that the ancient form of exercise had helped them keep fit and had in no way made them deviate from their faith.
Abdullah urged everyone to understand the content of the yoga fatwa and not twist facts which could cause confusion among the public, Bernama said.
He said Muslims who performed yoga exercise and did not chant any mantra could carry on with their activity as it was good for their health. He added that non-Muslims in this multi-ethnic country should not feel hurt or slighted by the announcement of the yoga fatwa as it was only applicable to Muslims.
Malaysia has a majority Muslim population with 60 per cent following the faith, while ethnic Chinese mostly Christians and Buddhists formed 25 per cent and ethnic Indians, a majority of them Hindus comprise 8 per cent of the country's 26 million population.
Yoga is very popular across the country with several studios offering classes. Gyms too offer regular yoga lessons.
"What I understand from the decision of the National Fatwa Council is that it was aimed at explaining to Muslims the implications of yoga practice." Abdullah said adding that the yoga fatwa would only be implemented after getting the consent of the Conference of Malay Rulers.
Decisions by the Fatwa Council are not legally binding on Malaysia's Muslims until they are enshrined in national laws or Shariah laws of individual states.
Recently, the Fatwa council also ruled that girls who behaved like tomboys was unislamic.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Yoga is not for Muslims ! - Malaysian Muslim Clerics
Top Islamic body: Yoga is not for Muslims
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysia's top Islamic body on Saturday ruled against Muslims practicing yoga, saying it had elements of other religions that could corrupt Muslims.
Malaysia's top Islamic body is not keen on yoga.
The National Fatwa Council's non-binding edict said yoga involves not just physical exercise but also includes Hindu spiritual elements, chanting and worship.
"It is inappropriate. It can destroy the faith of a Muslim," Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin told reporters.
He noted that clerics in Egypt issued a similar edict in 2004 that called the practice of yoga "an aberration."
Though the council's decisions are not legally binding on Malaysia's Muslim population, many abide by the edicts out of deference, and the council does have the authority to ostracize an offending Muslim from society.
The Malaysia fatwa reflects the growing strain of conservatism in Malaysia, which has always taken pride in its multi-ethnic population. About 25 percent of Malaysians are ethnic Chinese and 8 percent ethnic Indians, mostly Hindus.
Recently, the council issued an edict banning tomboys, ruling that girls who act like boys violate the tenets of Islam.
The Fatwa Council took up the yoga issue after an Islamic scholar last month expressed an opinion at a seminar that it was un-Islamic.
But yoga teacher Suleiha Merican, who has been practicing yoga for 40 years, called yoga "a great health science" and said there is no religion involved.
"We don't do chanting and meditation. There is no conflict because yoga is not religion based," Merican, 56, told The Associated Press.
There are no figures for how many Muslims practice yoga, but many yoga classes have a sprinkling of Muslims attending.
Putri Rahim, a housewife, said she was no less a Muslim after practicing yoga for 10 years.
"I am mad! Maybe they have it in mind that Islam is under threat. To come out with a fatwa is an insult to intelligent Muslims. It's an insult to my belief," Putri said.
In a recent blog posting, social activist Marina Mahathir criticized the council for even considering a yoga ban, calling it "a classic case of reacting out of fear and ignorance." E-mail to a friend | Mixx it | Share
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysia's top Islamic body on Saturday ruled against Muslims practicing yoga, saying it had elements of other religions that could corrupt Muslims.
Malaysia's top Islamic body is not keen on yoga.
The National Fatwa Council's non-binding edict said yoga involves not just physical exercise but also includes Hindu spiritual elements, chanting and worship.
"It is inappropriate. It can destroy the faith of a Muslim," Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin told reporters.
He noted that clerics in Egypt issued a similar edict in 2004 that called the practice of yoga "an aberration."
Though the council's decisions are not legally binding on Malaysia's Muslim population, many abide by the edicts out of deference, and the council does have the authority to ostracize an offending Muslim from society.
The Malaysia fatwa reflects the growing strain of conservatism in Malaysia, which has always taken pride in its multi-ethnic population. About 25 percent of Malaysians are ethnic Chinese and 8 percent ethnic Indians, mostly Hindus.
Recently, the council issued an edict banning tomboys, ruling that girls who act like boys violate the tenets of Islam.
The Fatwa Council took up the yoga issue after an Islamic scholar last month expressed an opinion at a seminar that it was un-Islamic.
But yoga teacher Suleiha Merican, who has been practicing yoga for 40 years, called yoga "a great health science" and said there is no religion involved.
"We don't do chanting and meditation. There is no conflict because yoga is not religion based," Merican, 56, told The Associated Press.
There are no figures for how many Muslims practice yoga, but many yoga classes have a sprinkling of Muslims attending.
Putri Rahim, a housewife, said she was no less a Muslim after practicing yoga for 10 years.
"I am mad! Maybe they have it in mind that Islam is under threat. To come out with a fatwa is an insult to intelligent Muslims. It's an insult to my belief," Putri said.
In a recent blog posting, social activist Marina Mahathir criticized the council for even considering a yoga ban, calling it "a classic case of reacting out of fear and ignorance." E-mail to a friend | Mixx it | Share
Saturday, May 17, 2008
India reaches Azlan Shah final after 12 years
India reaches Azlan Shah final after 12 yearsIpoh (Malaysia), May 17(ANI): India defeated hosts Malayasia by 2-1 in their last round robin match to reach the final of Azlan Shah hockey tournament after 12 years in Ipoh on Saturday.
Shivendra Singh scored with a ninth minute goal and Sandeep singh followed him a minute after in the crucial match, before Mohammad Amin Rahim scored a consolation goal for the hosts.
India with 12 points, now meets Argentina, who have finished with 14 points in the final on Sunday.
This was India’s fourth straight victory after losing the first two games in the tournament.
Sandip Singh hit the ball from outside the Malaysian circle which was deflected in by Shivendra singh, putting the first goal on board for India. (ANI)
Shivendra Singh scored with a ninth minute goal and Sandeep singh followed him a minute after in the crucial match, before Mohammad Amin Rahim scored a consolation goal for the hosts.
India with 12 points, now meets Argentina, who have finished with 14 points in the final on Sunday.
This was India’s fourth straight victory after losing the first two games in the tournament.
Sandip Singh hit the ball from outside the Malaysian circle which was deflected in by Shivendra singh, putting the first goal on board for India. (ANI)
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