Prison for non-Muslims who criticize Islam in Malaysia

Warning announced by justice minister, in reply to criticisms against family laws which allows Muslim men to take multiply wives and keep their property after divorce and which have already been contested by daughters of current and previous prime ministers.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) – Non-Muslims in Malaysia who criticize Islam risk imprisonment or heavy fines through enforcement of the country's anti-sedition law.  This warning was announced by Justice Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, and is part of a statement made yesterday to The Star newspaper, in reply to various articles which appeared in national media on new family legislation and which were "perceived as attacking the religion."  Passed last year, new family legislation allows, among other things, polygamy for Muslims and affirms the right of husbands to claim property in case of divorce.

Critics of the new legislation include Nori, daughter, of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who spoke of "injustice against women, in the name of Islam," and Marina, daughter of former p.m. Mahathir Mohamad.  Minister Aziz defended the law saying that the anti-sedition law "can be applied in such cases."  "We will not think twice about using this law," he stressed, "against anybody who speaks against Islam."   He added that he was very concerned over articles about Islam by non-Muslims: "There is a limit to what can be said in a Muslim-majority country."  "I want to remind non-Muslims to refrain from making statements on something they do not understand," he said.  "We do not want to take away your rights but religion is an important matter, especially to Muslims."

The Sedition Act, introduced by former British rulers, is used to curb speech detrimental to the government, inciting racial hatred, or questioning the rights of Malaysia's Muslim Malay majority.  

Marina Mahathir criticized the climate of fear that is surrounding the debate on Islam in Malaysia, where Muslims "live alongside Chinese and Indians," stressing that it has become difficult for anyone other than Muslim men with religious backgrounds to speak about Islam.   Nori Abdullah Badawi, quoted by Islamonline, said that "any law, passed under the noble name of Islam, should be consistent with our faith's fundamental principles of fairness, equality, freedom and most of all justice," adding that "injustice, under different guises and names, is being done in the name of Islam."

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