SIS opposes 'apostasy' Bill
Susan LoonePublished: Jan 10, 2001 9:27 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Sisters in Islam (SIS) is opposed to any effort to legislate on faith because the Quran is explicit and consistent in its recognition of freedom of religion.
Its president Zainah Anwar today cited Surah al-Baqarah 2:256 where Allah explicitly states: "Let there be no compulsion in religion."
"This has been widely interpreted to mean that no one can be compelled to embrace Islam. Religion depends upon faith and will, and this would be meaningless if induced by force," said Zainah in a [#1]letter[/#] to malaysiakini.
"Islam itself means submission to the will of God; and the willing submission of the self to faith and belief must be attained through conviction and reason, not through coercion and duress," she added.
Zainah said that those who support punishment for apostasy interpret verse 2:256 to apply only to non-Muslims (one cannot use force to convert a non-Muslim to Islam) and to mean that a person who converts into Islam loses the freedom to leave it.
She emphasised that freedom of religion must recognise the freedom to change religion. Muslims cannot demand religious freedom for those wishing to convert to Islam and at the same time argue the denial of this freedom to those wishing to repudiate their faith in Islam, she said.
"Such an argument limits the scope of the broad humanistic meaning of the verse 2:256 referred to and imposes a double standard on faith and freedom," she said.
"Moreover, the Quran in some 20 verses on belief and disbelief does not prescribe any temporal punishment for apostasy," she added.
Zainah said that while many eminent Muslim jurists viewed renunciation of faith as an offence, they regarded the matter as one between man and his creator, and its punishment is postponed to the day of judgment.
Article 11
Last Monday, a 29-member delegation of concerned citizens sent a petition to Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) registering their objection to the proposed Bill ([#2]'Apostasy' Bill contravenes constitution, says group[/#], Sept 25).
It provides power to the authorities to detain Muslims involved in deviant teachings and practices for up to a year at faith rehabilitation centres.
Zainah maintained that the proposed Bill violates Article 11 which guarantees freedom of religion.
The local courts had a long tradition in the Malaysian legal system of recognising freedom of religion, she added.
Its president Zainah Anwar today cited Surah al-Baqarah 2:256 where Allah explicitly states: "Let there be no compulsion in religion."
"This has been widely interpreted to mean that no one can be compelled to embrace Islam. Religion depends upon faith and will, and this would be meaningless if induced by force," said Zainah in a [#1]letter[/#] to malaysiakini.
"Islam itself means submission to the will of God; and the willing submission of the self to faith and belief must be attained through conviction and reason, not through coercion and duress," she added.
Zainah said that those who support punishment for apostasy interpret verse 2:256 to apply only to non-Muslims (one cannot use force to convert a non-Muslim to Islam) and to mean that a person who converts into Islam loses the freedom to leave it.
She emphasised that freedom of religion must recognise the freedom to change religion. Muslims cannot demand religious freedom for those wishing to convert to Islam and at the same time argue the denial of this freedom to those wishing to repudiate their faith in Islam, she said.
"Such an argument limits the scope of the broad humanistic meaning of the verse 2:256 referred to and imposes a double standard on faith and freedom," she said.
"Moreover, the Quran in some 20 verses on belief and disbelief does not prescribe any temporal punishment for apostasy," she added.
Zainah said that while many eminent Muslim jurists viewed renunciation of faith as an offence, they regarded the matter as one between man and his creator, and its punishment is postponed to the day of judgment.
Article 11
Last Monday, a 29-member delegation of concerned citizens sent a petition to Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) registering their objection to the proposed Bill ([#2]'Apostasy' Bill contravenes constitution, says group[/#], Sept 25).
It provides power to the authorities to detain Muslims involved in deviant teachings and practices for up to a year at faith rehabilitation centres.
Zainah maintained that the proposed Bill violates Article 11 which guarantees freedom of religion.
The local courts had a long tradition in the Malaysian legal system of recognising freedom of religion, she added.
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