
Ensure the word 'Islam' not used arbitrarily to benefit any party, says Selangor Ruler
PETALING JAYA: Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah says that the word "Islam" should not be used arbitrarily for the benefit and interests of any individual or organisation.
In a post on the Selangor Royal Office offical Facebook page Thursday (June 19), His Royal Highness also expressed his agreement with the contents of a statement by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) expressing "disappointment" over the Federal Court's decision that SIS Forum, being a company, could not be subject to a fatwa issued by Mais.
"His Royal Highness is in agreement with the contents of the statement issued today by Mais concerning this latest decision.
"His Royal Highness emphasises that the misuse of the word "Islam" in the name and publications of SIS Forum (Malaysia) could cause confusion among the Muslim community.
"In light of the Federal Court's decision, His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor, as the head of Islam in Selangor, urges that SIS Forum (Malaysia) cease using the term "Sisters in Islam" in any form of publication on any platform associated with the company, so that the word "Islam" is not arbitrarily used for the benefit and interests of the organisation," the post said.
Earlier Thursday, the Federal Court, in a 3-1 majority decision, held that the SIS Forum, being a company, could not be subjected to the fatwa issued by Mais, as only individuals professing Islam, not companies, fall under its purview.
The panel, led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, also ruled that the move to ban SIS publications or block their online platforms went beyond the jurisdiction of state religious authorities and should instead fall under federal laws governing media and communications.
However, the court upheld the core of the fatwa, which declares liberalism and religious pluralism as deviant teachings in Islam, meaning it remains enforceable against individuals.

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Sultan Of Selangor Disappointed, Sad With Federal Court's SIS Fatwa Ruling
SHAH ALAM, June 19 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has expressed disappointment and sadness with regard to the Federal Court's decision. The court ruled that a 2014 fatwa issued by the Selangor Fatwa Committee does not apply to the Sisters in Islam (SIS) Forum Malaysia as an organisation or institution, but only to individuals. In a post on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page, the ruler expressed his agreement with the statement issued by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) regarding the court decision. Following this, the Sultan of Selangor, as the Head of Islam in the state, urged the SIS Forum Malaysia to cease using the term Sisters in Islam in any publication or platform associated with the organisation. This request was made to prevent the indiscriminate use of the term Islam for the benefit and interest of the organisation. "His Majesty emphasised that the misuse of the term Islam in the name and publications of SIS Forum Malaysia can cause confusion among the Muslim community," the post said. Earlier today, the Federal Court granted an appeal by SIS Forum Malaysia and its co-founder, Zainah Mahfoozah Anwar, challenging the 2014 fatwa issued by the Selangor Fatwa Committee. The fatwa had labelled the organisation as deviating from Islamic teachings. A four-judge panel led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, in a 3-1 majority decision, set aside the fatwa regarding its applicability to companies and institutions. MAIS Chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin earlier said that the council disagrees with part of the Federal Court's ruling, particularly the decision that the fatwa dated July 31, 2014, applies only to individuals and not to SIS Forum Malaysia as an organisation or institution. He added that MAIS had expressed sadness that the decision indirectly interferes with the process of issuing and applying fatwas related to Islamic law.


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The Selangor Sultan has expressed disappointment and regret over part of the Federal Court's ruling in favour of rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS), urging the NGO to stop using 'Sisters in Islam' in its publications. In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said that the 'misuse' of the word 'Islam' in the name and publications of SIS Forum (Malaysia) could cause confusion among the Muslim community.