YOURSAY 'Soon the government will appeal and the higher courts will overturn the verdict and we will be back to square one.'

Court overturns conversion of minors to Islam

your sayLittleGiant: This, no doubt, is a landmark decision. If the government is sincere in wanting to stop the abuse of unilateral conversion of children in the country and promote racial harmony, it should not file an appeal to review the verdict of the Ipoh High Court.

Indira Gandhi and her children can celebrate only after the government makes an official announcement that it respects the court's decision.

Fiat Justitia, Ruat Caelum: This is a small victory and yet very meaningful. However, I am afraid there will be an appeal.

Remember the case of the mother who was forcibly separated from her husband and her children, allegedly because she is a Muslim (non-practicing) and her husband and children are Hindus?

This is the work of over-zealous religious officials. No religion would countenance such a despicable act.

Hang Tuah PJ: I pity the third child. She did not get a mother's love and care for five years. How sad. The father has no right to deny the child her mother's love.

When she grows up, I hope she gives her father a tight slap in the face. A mother's love has no bounds and nobody should be prevented from receiving their mother's love.

Tholu: "This decision is no victory for anyone...," said High Court judge Lee Swee Seng.

Yes indeed, for there was no defeat in the first place since the unilateral conversion of the children by their father runs afoul of the basic human right of an individual to decide his/her religion or even to be an atheist.

Even God has not forced upon anyone to believe and accept him and we mere mortals are not His private secretary to decide on behalf of Him.

Let religions be a platform to enhance and foster harmony and peace among humans and not used as a tool to sow discord and hatred among ourselves.

Democrat: This is a clear victory for the basic rights of a human being, not a religious issue. So please do not turn this forum into a religious debate.

Absalom: This decision may come as a relief for the mother, but is not a cue for anyone to run down the religion. It does not make sense that we condemn others for their bigotry when we ourselves are prejudiced and insensitive.

Let us leave the bigotry to those few who relentlessly try to create disharmony among the races and religions for their own self preservation.

Toonarmy: Islam is just a just and fair religion but it is getting an unjustified reputation because some mentally-challenged morons in religious departments take it upon themselves to undermine other religions in the misguided view that their efforts are to strengthen Islam.

Nothing in the Holy Quran says anything about undermining other religions. On the contrary, Islam respects all other religions and preaches peaceful co-existence and acceptance. Blame the morons, not the religion.

The bottom line is simply that:

1) nobody should be forced to covert to any religion that he or she does not want, and

2) minors should not be made to convert unless such conversion has the express written consent of both parents.

JMC: Here is another brave and just judge but will his judgment remain? Soon the government will appeal and the higher courts will overturn the verdict and we will be back to square one. Same circus over and over, how pathetic we have become.

Casey919: Well done, justice Lee. You worded it so very well. Yes. There is no winner or loser in the depth of a pure heart; only the ‘ego' of the mind separates the winner from the loser.

Fair Play: If we are decent human beings with a conscience, do we want to force someone to do something against their will?

I hope all Malaysians would view the decision as one that could unite all Malaysians when justice is meted out in fairness and without imposing untold unhappiness to the aggrieved party.

Wildboar: Islam is a good religion. It is the powers-that-be in Malaysia that is making it bad by just wanting quantity and don't care about quality Muslims.

That is exactly why we are seeing so many self-proclaimed Muslims who are bringing shame to Islam and all good Muslims by their very bad behaviour, which is totally against the teaching of Islam.

Islam never taught, encourage or condone corruption, insulting others, lying, etc, but we are seeing so many people who claimed to be Muslim doing exactly this.

And they want to claim to be Muslims so that they can hide their sins behind a great religion.

Chitra-ngada-: To this loving mother, Indira Gandhi, I can only say I admire your courage. Please stay strong as your case may not end here if the other party decides to appeal. Please seek the advice of the wise and take the necessary action to protect your children.

Please remember, "If someone is strong enough to bring you down, show them you are strong enough to get up". This is with reference to your estranged husband.

Vijay47: Indira, please remember, you are not out of the woods yet. In my humble ignorant opinion, the question of whether any Muslim chant was done or not should not have been the basis for deciding that the children's conversion was invalid.

It is frightening to think what the decision would have been had that prayer been recited. Islamic principles should not play a role in non-Muslim family matters such as these.

Secondly, you can expect our friendly neighbourhood "I can arrest you for your own safety" AG (attorney-general) to file an appeal. Otherwise, his friends in Perkasa and similar bodies will ensure his south is on the burner.

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