Federal Court to rule June 19 on SIS Forum's appeal against 'deviant' fatwa

New Straits Times

4 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Court will on Thursday deliver its decision on Sisters in Islam (SIS) Forum (Malaysia)'s appeal against a 2014 fatwa gazetted by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS), which declared the organisation deviant.
The Federal Court, on Aug 21, 2023, granted leave to SIS Forum (Malaysia) and its founder, Zainah Mahfoozah Anwar, to proceed with an appeal against a decision by the Court of Appeal which had dismissed their bid to annul a fatwa issued by the Selangor Fatwa Committee.
On March 14, 2023, the Court of Appeal dismissed SIS Forum Malaysia's appeal to annul the fatwa issued by the Selangor Fatwa Committee, which declared the group deviant and straying from true Islamic teachings.
A three-judge panel at the Court of Appeal, by a 2-1 majority, rejected the appeal, ruling it lacked merit.
The Court of Appeal's decision at the time was based on Section 47 of the Administration of Islamic Law Enactment 1991, which gives the Fatwa Committee authority to issue fatwas on unresolved or controversial religious matters, Berita Harian reported.
On Oct 31, 2014, SIS Forum (Malaysia) filed a judicial review application for a court order to revoke the fatwa decision.
The fatwa, gazetted by the Selangor State Government on July 31, 2014, declared SIS Forum Malaysia, as well as any individual or group subscribing to liberalism and pluralism, as deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings.
In addition, the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court are scheduled to deliver rulings in a number of other high-profile cases.
Meanwhile, this Wednesday, a Court of Appeal panel is scheduled to hear Paul Yong's appeal against his rape conviction.
The former assemblyman is appealing against the Court of Appeal's majority decision on March 1, last year, which upheld his conviction but reduced his sentence from 13 years to eight years, with two strokes of the cane maintained.
Also on Wednesday, a different panel is set to deliver the assessment of damages Public Bank Bhd must pay NFCorp and four others for breach of contract after their confidential account information was leaked in 2012.
The damages decision will be delivered by a three-judge panel led by the Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim.
Also on Wednesday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court will continue the trial of Afendi Muhammad Agus, who is charged with the murder of his parents on Dec 9, last year.
On Friday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court will decide whether to grant a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) for jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak from three money laundering charges involving RM27 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.
If the DNAA is not granted, the court will set a new trial date for the case.