Kulim-Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin is no stranger to controversial methods to get his message across and the latest target of his wrath is Muslim women’s rights advocates Sisters in Islam.

In a posting on his blog yesterday, Zulkifli claimed that the NGO misrepresents Islamic teachings and should not be allowed to use the word ‘Islam’ in its name.

Instead, he suggested that the group be called Ikatan Wanita Kosmopolitan (Cosmopolitan Women’s Alliance) or IWK for short.

The suggestion was a sly dig at the group as it is the abbreviation of the name of sewerage treatment company Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd.

pas members Zulkifli’s comments stemmed from his partial support for a resolution passed during the recently concluded PAS muktamar to have Sisters-in-Islam banned for going against Islamic teachings.

However, he expressed ‘reservations’ against an outright ban because “it would cause people to sympathise with this group (and) it will also become a model of narrow-minded people to insult Islam”.

Instead, Zulkifli said he wants the authorities to ban the group from using the word ‘Islam’ in their name.

“If they use the word ‘Islam’, it gives an impression that they are speaking for Islam or representing the voice of Islam,” said the lawyer.

'They're single women’

Additionally, he said the group was never registered as a NGO under the Societies Act, but under the Companies Act as SIS Forum Sdn Bhd.

“If we look at their real name, it has nothing to do with Islam. But they are going around the world and proudly calling themselves Sisters in Islam.”

Elaborating on his suggestion that they be called IWK, Zulkifli said the name is in line with “the group’s image where they mostly do not wear headscarves and are not married”.

“How can they talk about women’s rights and about Islamic marriages when they do not follow basic Islamic law?”

zulkifli nordin Zulkifli also urged the group to not use daughters of Umno leaders to achieve their aims.

“I’m fear that the use of daughters of Umno leaders will weaken the resolve of the authorities to take stern action on them. I also advised these daughters of Umno leaders to understand their position and (not taint) their fathers name (by being involved) in the activities of this group.”

Zulkifli said that PAS should engage Sisters in Islam with their plethora of religious scholars in a dialogue or muzakarah .

“This is a big jihad and it will be a big political mileage for PAS if they succeed in menjinakkan (domesticating) this group and (bringing) them back to the correct path,” he said.

He further urged the attorney-general’s chambers, religious department enforcement team and the National Fatwa Council to take action against the group.

In particular, Zulkifli called on the National Fatwa Council to discuss the group’s activities and statements, and if any of this deviates from Islamic teachings, to call in the group for an explanation.

“If they fail or refuse (to explain themselves) thus the council must consider declaring them as deviants, such as what has been done to the Al Arqam group, Ayah Pin and others,” he said.

PKR has distanced itself from the PAS resolution on Sisters in Islam. Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad (right) has chided PAS, adding that a ban would be deemed “draconian” .

This is not the first time that Zulkifli is breaking ranks with his party. He was called up for a disciplinary hearing by PKR for his role in leading a mob to stop a Bar Council inter-faith forum last year.