Heed rights in religious rows, say groups
Published: May 15, 2007 9:40 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Three civil society groups have jointly issued a statement urging Malaysians to protect the constitutional rights of non-Muslims.
Three civil society groups have jointly issued a statement urging Malaysians to protect the constitutional rights of non-Muslims.
They were referring to a series of actions by Islamic authorities which, they claimed, have caused pain and suffering to the families affected.
The statement was initiated by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, human rights watchdog Suaram and the Women's Development Collective.
It was drawn up in the wake of the most recent case of Revathi Masoosai @ Siti Fatimah who has reportedly been forcibly separated from her Hindu husband and placed in a "faith rehabilitation camp".
Among the 54 groups that have endorsed the statement are the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism; Malaysian Trade Union Congress; Aliran; Hakam; DAP; Parti Sosialis Malaysia; Hindu Rights Action Force; Vivekananda Youth Movement Seremban; Centre for Orang Asli Concerns; and Women's Aid Organisation.
The statement also referred to such "state-sanctioned tragedies" as the case of M Moorthy (left) and A Rayappan - their families were involved in highly publicised tussle with religious authorities in claiming their remains when they died.
The groups warn that such developments are not only endangering the fabric of multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia but also the institution of family and marriage in the case of those whose spouses have converted to Islam and where disputes arise subsequently over custody of children.
'Respect choices'
They urged the authorities and other interest groups to respect the choices made by such families, saying that their rights should not be denied.
"It is disturbing that even (in the 50th year) of independence, humanity has ceased to guide some Malaysians' judgement (and) that they see, hear and feel no pain (for) fellow human beings who have just lost their families or are forcibly separated from their loved ones.
"Humanity must prevail over politics. Decisions made within the family for their personal peace and harmony, including those of children, must be respected."
In addition, the groups expressed support for the opinions of Perak Regent Raja Nazrin Shah who urged Malaysians to defend the Federal Constitution and common goals towards national building.
"Our independence will cease to have meaning if, having freed ourselves of colonialism, we are subject to new, arbitrary and undemocratic dictates," the group added.
Calling on Malaysians to respect one another as equals, it warned that failure would cause this "dangerous trend" and degradation of the institution of family and marriage, to continue.
They were referring to a series of actions by Islamic authorities which, they claimed, have caused pain and suffering to the families affected.
The statement was initiated by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, human rights watchdog Suaram and the Women's Development Collective.
It was drawn up in the wake of the most recent case of Revathi Masoosai @ Siti Fatimah who has reportedly been forcibly separated from her Hindu husband and placed in a "faith rehabilitation camp".
Among the 54 groups that have endorsed the statement are the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism; Malaysian Trade Union Congress; Aliran; Hakam; DAP; Parti Sosialis Malaysia; Hindu Rights Action Force; Vivekananda Youth Movement Seremban; Centre for Orang Asli Concerns; and Women's Aid Organisation.
The statement also referred to such "state-sanctioned tragedies" as the case of M Moorthy (left) and A Rayappan - their families were involved in highly publicised tussle with religious authorities in claiming their remains when they died. The groups warn that such developments are not only endangering the fabric of multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia but also the institution of family and marriage in the case of those whose spouses have converted to Islam and where disputes arise subsequently over custody of children.
'Respect choices'
They urged the authorities and other interest groups to respect the choices made by such families, saying that their rights should not be denied.
"It is disturbing that even (in the 50th year) of independence, humanity has ceased to guide some Malaysians' judgement (and) that they see, hear and feel no pain (for) fellow human beings who have just lost their families or are forcibly separated from their loved ones.
"Humanity must prevail over politics. Decisions made within the family for their personal peace and harmony, including those of children, must be respected."
In addition, the groups expressed support for the opinions of Perak Regent Raja Nazrin Shah who urged Malaysians to defend the Federal Constitution and common goals towards national building. "Our independence will cease to have meaning if, having freed ourselves of colonialism, we are subject to new, arbitrary and undemocratic dictates," the group added.
Calling on Malaysians to respect one another as equals, it warned that failure would cause this "dangerous trend" and degradation of the institution of family and marriage, to continue.
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