Federal Court to rule June 19 on SIS fatwa appeal
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Court will deliver its ruling on June 19 in the appeal filed by SIS Forum (Malaysia) against a fatwa issued by the Selangor religious authorities, which declared the organisation deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings.
The matter was confirmed by Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, counsel for the Selangor Fatwa Committee, when contacted today.
'The court informed the parties of the decision date via email on May 20,' he said.
In addition to the Selangor Fatwa Committee, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and the Selangor government are also named as respondents in the appeal.
On Aug 21, 2023, the Federal Court granted leave to SIS Forum and its founder, Zainah Mahfoozah Anwar, to appeal against the Court of Appeal's earlier decision dismissing their bid to annul the fatwa.
In a 2-1 majority decision, the Court of Appeal held that the fatwa issued by the Selangor Fatwa Committee did not constitute a final decision and, therefore, could not be challenged by way of judicial review.
SIS Forum and Zainah had appealed to the Court of Appeal after the High Court dismissed their application for a judicial review on Aug 27, 2019.
The fatwa, gazetted by the Selangor State Government on July 31, 2014, declared SIS Forum, as well as any individual or group subscribing to liberalism and pluralism, as deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings.
The fatwa further directed that any publication espousing liberal or pluralist views be banned and seized, and urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to censor social media content deemed contrary to Islamic teachings and syariah law.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysiakini
11 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Federal Court ruling on SIS Forum fatwa appeal set for June 19
The Federal Court will deliver its ruling on June 19 in the appeal filed by SIS Forum (Malaysia) against a fatwa issued by the Selangor religious authorities, which declared the organisation deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings. The matter was confirmed by Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, counsel for the Selangor Fatwa Committee, when contacted today. 'The court informed...
Focus Malaysia
11 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Why is a non-Muslim DAP rep allowed to poke his nose in the running of Islamic affairs?
MUSLIMS seem to be divided over the recent 'open-minded' move by the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council (MAINS) to include non-Muslim politicians in its Islamic affairs briefing. This came about as a pro-opposition netizen questioned the presence of the state's Industry and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Teo Kok Seong (not to be mistaken for his controversial academician namesake) at the briefing on grounds that 'matters pertaining to Islamic affairs should shield be left to Muslims to manage by themselves'. 'Such action is incorrect and should be questioned,' he penned on X in reaction to a photo bearing the caption 'There is a DAP representative in the MAINS meeting as an observer'. Sampai sekarang kerajaan Negeri Sembilan PH-BN tak memberikan penjelasan kenapa ada pemimpin non-muslim yang masuk dlm mesyuarat Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Sembilan. Hal ehwal urusan agama islam biarlah org islam sendiri uruskan. Tindakan ini tidak betul & perlu ditegur. — (@ahmadazarul_) May 29, 2025 Earlier, MAINS had defended the briefing held on May 20 which Teo who is also a two-term Bahau state assemblyman attended as part of an inclusive and integrated governance approach involving members of the state executive council, including non-Muslims. 'The attendance was in line with the directive and consent of the Negeri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir aimed at providing exposure and deepening understanding of Islamic administration in the state,' read the statemen by MAINS. The council further noted that it had previously conducted a similar briefing with all state assembly members – including non-Muslims from both government and opposition – on Oct 8 last year. This approach reflects its commitment to progressive and inclusive Islamic governance, according to the council. Many Madani government backers ticked of the poster for his narrow mindset, alluding to the point that Tuanku Muhriz as the Negeri Sembilan ruler had consented the move given Teo's attendance would further enhance the understanding of non-Muslims on the state's Islamic administration. Moreover, the poster was either oblivious or had y chosen to ignore to ignore the fact that MAINS had clarified on the matter on May 27 which is two days prior to his social media post. As one commenter aptly put it, though there was a non-Muslim presence in the briefing, 'it's the Muslims who eventually make decisions on Islamic matters'. This is when it became obvious that the issue here is not about non-Muslims sitting in the briefing or interfering in the administration of Islamic affairs but merely a tool by the pro-PAS faction to demonise DAP. To counter the grouses of a pro-opposition commenter as to why 'only Muslins are busy inviting non-Muslims to gatherings/conferences related to Islam when the same is not reciprocated by non-Muslims', one rational Muslim furnished the following cheeky response: 'How is this possible when some radical Muslims have even demanded that the Christian cross at churches be removed. And now you want to be invited to interfaith dialogues?' – May 31, 2025
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
June 10 hearing on Anwar's bid to stay sexual assault suit
KUALA LUMPUR: The Court of Appeal has set June 10 for the ad interim hearing of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's bid to stay proceedings in a 2021 sexual assault suit filed by his former research officer, Muhammed Yusoff Rawther. Anwar's lawyer, Datuk Seri Rajasegaran Krishnan, said the date was fixed during case management before deputy registrar Ahmad Izuddin Fajri Fakrullah. "The full stay application hearing is on July 21,'" he told the "New Straits Times". The hearing comes ahead of the civil trial on June 16 before High Court judge Roz Mawar Rozain. The suit was filed before Anwar became prime minister on Nov 24, 2022. Separately, Rajasegaran said Sept 2 was set for case management in Anwar's appeal against Roz Mawar's decision rejecting his bid to refer eight constitutional questions to the Federal Court, including whether he has immunity from civil suits. Roz Mawar, in her decision, ruled that Anwar's referral application on the eight constitutional questions was speculative and did not meet the requirements under Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act. Anwar had sought the apex court to rule whether Articles 5, 8, 39, 40 and 43 of the constitution grant him qualified immunity from Yusoff's suit. He also argued that the suit could impair his ability to perform executive duties and undermine the constitutional separation of powers.
