Malaysia's Islamic identity at issue [ROP Alert]

International Herald Tribune ^ | 8/24/6 | Jane Perlez

[ZGuy]

Lina Joy converted from Islam to Christianity eight years ago and since then has endured extraordinary hurdles in her desire to marry the man in her life.

Her name is a household word in this majority Muslim country. But she is now in hiding after death threats from Islamic extremists, who accuse her of being an apostate.

Five years ago she started proceedings in the civil courts to seek the right to marry her Christian fiancé and have children. Because she had renounced her Muslim faith, Joy, 42, argued, Malaysia's Islamic Shariah courts, which control matters like marriage, property and divorce, did not have jurisdiction over her.

In a series of decisions, the civil courts ruled against her. Then, last month, her lawyer, Benjamin Dawson, appeared before Malaysia's highest court, the Court of Appeals, to argue that Joy's conversion be considered a right protected under the constitution, not a religious matter for the Shariah courts.

Threats against Joy had become so insistent, and the passions over her conversion so inflamed, he had concluded there was no room for her and her fiancé in Malaysia.

For Malaysia, which considers itself a moderate and modern Muslim country with a tolerance for its multiple religions and ethnic groups of Malays, Indians and Chinese, the case has kicked up a firestorm that goes to the very heart of who is a Malay, and what is Malaysia.

In rulings in her case, civil courts said Malays could not renounce Islam because the constitution defined Malays to be Muslims.

About 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people are Muslims.

Because of the death threats, including some calls to hunt her down, Dawson said, he could not make her available for an interview.

Similarly, her fiancé had received death threats and was not prepared to be interviewed.

[ZGuy]

Now we know what "moderate and modern" Muslims are like.

[Mount Athos]

Malaysia is frequently held up as the best example of a moderate muslim country.

[kinoxi]

Some have said Turkey. Digging deeper generally leads to disturbing realities in either one though.

[taxcontrol]

Section 3 of the Malay Constitution:

"Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation"

I guess that "other religions may be practices in peace and harmony... " part is just there to consume more ink.

[thoughtomator]

They probably take it as seriously as we take various inconvenient sections of our own.

[bird4four4]

the constitution defined Malays to be Muslims. About 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people are Muslims

Funny, seems if the constitution defines Malays to be Muslim, then 100 percent would be Muslim. I guess Muslim math is different the the rest of the world.

Sad case. I want to know why the ACLU doens't go to these Muslim nations and demand the tollerance and acceptance the they do so agressively here in the USA.

[alecqss]

"I want to know why the ACLU doesn't go to these Muslim nations and demand the tollerance and acceptance the they do so agressively here in the USA."

Here is why, I suppose: presence of civil liberties is required for protecting them being a safe business. It's just dangerous to protect liberty and human rights in places where they are not respected, you know.

[Gritty]

[Marius3188]

In Malaysia, they have national ID cards. On the cards it states your religion. You must be Muslim to be Malay. It's that simple.

The religious police, yes they have them, will go around 'carding' people who they think might be Malay if they are drinking and stuff. Weird stuff.

However, Indonesia has alot more freedom to worship and free speech. Yes, there is crazies, but overall, pretty laid back.