Malaysia sets May 30 for ruling on Islam conversion

[buckthesystem]

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/arti...lam_conversion/

By Clarence Fernandez | May 25, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's highest court will rule next week on whether a Muslim has the right to convert to another faith, lawyers said on Friday, in a test case that could shake society in the mainly Muslim country.

The Federal Court, the country's highest civil judicial authority, will announce on May 30 if it has decided to acknowledge the decision of Lina Joy to convert to Christianity and give up Islam, the faith she was born into.

"We're all awaiting with bated breath a case which has a great impact on the course that the country will take," Benjamin Dawson, Joy's lawyer, told Reuters.

Islam is Malaysia's official religion, so Muslims who decide to switch faiths pose a tricky legal question for the government of the multiracial, multi-religious nation.

Ethnic Malays, who make up just over half of Malaysia's 26 million people, are deemed Muslims from birth.

Constitutionally, freedom of religion is guaranteed. But in reality, conversion out of Islam falls within the ambit of sharia or Islamic courts. And sharia law prescribes fines or jail for those who renounce Islam, effectively ruling out the option.

Muslims who leave Islam end up in legal limbo, unable to register their new religious affiliations or legally marry non-Muslims. Many keep quiet about their choice or emigrate.

Lina Joy, now in her early 40s, was born Azlina Jailani and brought up as a Muslim but at the age of 26 decided to become a Christian.

In 1999, the National Registration Department allowed her to change the name in her identity card to Lina Joy but the entry for her religion remained "Islam."

Until the entry is deleted, she cannot legally marry outside the Muslim faith. The legal wrangling began when she took the department to court over the anomaly.

(for rest of article go to link)

[Wingwalker]

Freedom of religion holds a meaning in the US that I never realized I had before. I never have had to question or ask if I could attend this church or that church. I can worship anywhere, anyhow, anyway, and any god I want to. I cannot imagine what a person goes through to switch from muslim to christianity. I cannot imagine what it like to be taxed higher taxes because i believe in the Christian God. My only persectution for being a Christian is being ridiculed by my father. What sacrifices have I made for Christ?

So what is religious freedom in Malaysia?

[Scarletprayers]

I agree bb, this really brings home the reality for Christians in other parts of the world..............bucks I hope you can find the outcome on the vote and let us know when it happens!

[buckthesystem]

I agree bb, this really brings home the reality for Christians in other parts of the world..............bucks I hope you can find the outcome on the vote and let us know when it happens!

I'll see if I can pick it up.

[Scarletprayers]

I agree bb, this really brings home the reality for Christians in other parts of the world..............bucks I hope you can find the outcome on the vote and let us know when it happens!

I'll see if I can pick it up.

Good deal!

[Guest]

[BroChuck]

Praying here also

[buckthesystem]

I agree bb, this really brings home the reality for Christians in other parts of the world..............bucks I hope you can find the outcome on the vote and let us know when it happens!

I'll see if I can pick it up.

Good deal!

There I was looking for the "MalaysiaStar" and I go to Worthy and George has posted it. Unfortunately they said "no" to religious freedom.

The article George posted is far more comprehensive than my one anyway. Thanks George.

[melvin2007]

Actually Malaysian citizens do have a right to practise their own personal religions freely...

However, its kind of an unspoken law that muslims in Malysia cannot convert

Which is why some of them run off to neighbouring countries like Thailand