Latest news with #SitiKasim
Focus Malaysia
23-07-2025
- General
- Focus Malaysia
Why Siti Kasim's 'think a thousand times before converting for the sake of marrying' is gospel truth
LOVE conquers all or so it would seem. Take away the first flushes of romance, married life is full of unexpected pitfalls and challenges. So warned human rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim on her Facebook page recently on the many instances marital breakdown has led to a spouse wishing to leave a religion which he or she converted into for the sake of nuptials. As it is not so easy to declare apostasy as in the case of Muslim convert spouses – in fact, it is very much a one-way traffic – it is best that one thinks long and hard when choosing a Muslim life partner, she counselled. Sharing a video of a Muslim wife lamenting about her convert husband's refusal to adhere to certain Islamic practices, the legal eagle – while chiding the woman for washing dirty laundry on social media – contended that such is a chilling reminder of how fast reality of life would creep in once marital bliss has faded. In the video which was first posted on Berani Viral's Facebook page, the lady identified only as Ema complained about her husband's fondness for his pet dog. The canine which Ema admits is cute has clearly become a major bone of contention as its very presence within the home has greatly upset her. Additionally, she is also infuriated by her husband partaking in some Taoist praying ritual alongside his grandmother who is living with them in addition to his fondness for Chinese food with dubious halal status. However, Ema was berated by one commenter for being narrow-minded with her religious interpretations having contained too many restrictions which were not universal Islamic values. He went on to chide the lady for not being able to differentiate between religious and cultural practices. One lady commenter who claimed to have divorced from her Muslim convert spouse revealed that she never felt the urge to share him on social media. Foolish seems to be the verdict here. The same sentiment was echoed by more than a few who thought such story telling of family matters in public to be in poor taste. One commenter seemed to hit the nail on the head by asking why marry a convert if the lady was unwilling to compromise or buy into a different cultural background. Such small-minded individuals are ill-suited to mixed marriages it was observed, hence Ema should have sought a Malay-Muslim spouse from the off to avoid all the challenges she is now facing. It was also pointed out that in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, does not require non-Muslims to convert to Islam before legally marrying a Muslim. There was little sympathy for Ema as many saw her rant as attention-seeking as well as displaying her narrow-mindedness for all to see. One commenter even urged the husband to simply kick out this complaining spouse instead of his beloved dog. That may be a tad drastic. The one thing that the video does highlight – regardless of one's cultural or religious beliefs – is that mixed marriages can be fraught with difficulties. Love can indeed conquer, but only if you let it … with a huge slice of compromise. – July 2025
The Star
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Siti Kasim awarded RM160k in damages over arrest
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has awarded lawyer and activist Siti Kasim RM160,000 in damages after allowing her civil suit against the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), 15 of its officers and seven others over her unlawful arrest and detention during a private fundraising event in 2016. Justice Su Tiang Joo ordered the defendants to pay RM100,000 in exemplary damages, RM60,000 in aggravated damages and RM100,000 in legal costs to the plaintiff, reported Bernama. The court held that Siti Kasim, whose full name is Siti Zabedah Kasim, had proven on the balance of probabilities that she was wrongfully arrested and falsely imprisoned by two Jawi officers after exiting the ballroom of the hotel where the event was held. 'In my considered view, there was misfeasance in public office by the defendants in conducting a raid and apprehending a participant at a state event, without ensuring the lawful exercise of their powers, thereby causing unnecessary fear and discomfort,' the judge said. Siti Kasim filed the suit in September 2019, where she claimed false imprisonment, misfeasance in public office and a violation of her constitutional right to personal liberty under the Federal Constitution. She maintained that she had not obstructed any officer and was merely carrying out her duties as a legal practitioner. On Aug 21, 2020, the Magistrate's Court here acquitted and discharged Siti Kasim of the charge of obstructing public servants, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case under Section 186 of the Penal Code.
Free Malaysia Today
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Siti Kasim wins suit over unlawful arrest by Jawi officers
Siti Kasim was arrested during a 2016 raid at a transgender beauty pageant event. KUALA LUMPUR : The High Court here has ruled that the federal territories Islamic religious department (Jawi) and its officers unlawfully arrested and detained lawyer-activist Siti Kasim during a raid on a private fundraising dinner in 2016. Judge Su Tiang Joo said the court was satisfied that Siti had proven her case on a balance of probabilities. He affirmed that Siti had been present in her capacity as an assistant advocate when she was arrested at about 10.30pm on April 3, 2016, and held without basis until her release at about 2.30am the following day. Su said the religious officers involved had neither the lawful grounds to arrest Siti nor the authority to act on offences under the Penal Code. He awarded Siti RM160,000 in general and aggravated damages, along with RM100,000 in legal costs. Siti filed the civil suit against Jawi and the government in September 2019, claiming compensation for wrongful arrest and illegal detention. She contended that she suffered 'loss of freedom' for four hours after she was detained by the Jawi officers, as well as nervous shock, insult and mental anguish. She said she was only carrying out her duty as a lawyer during the raid, and insisted that she had not obstructed the officers from carrying out their duties. Siti was acquitted by the magistrates' court here on Aug 21, 2020, of a charge under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing Jawi officer Nor Jihan Saleh during the raid, which took place at a transgender beauty pageant event. Lawyer A Saha Deva represented Siti, while senior federal counsel Nur Irmawatie Daud appeared for the defendants.
Sinar Daily
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Siti Kasim awarded RM160,000 in damages over unlawful arrest by Jawi
In his judgment, High Court Judge Su Tiang Joo ordered the defendants to pay RM100,000 in exemplary damages, RM60,000 in aggravated damages, and RM100,000 in legal costs to the plaintiff (Siti Kasim). 18 Jul 2025 03:55pm The court held that Siti Kasim, whose full name is Siti Zabedah Kasim, had proven on the balance of probabilities that she was wrongfully arrested and falsely imprisoned by two Jawi officers after exiting the ballroom of the hotel where the event was held. - Photo taken from Siti Kasim's Facebook KUALA LUMPUR - The High Court has awarded lawyer and activist Siti Kasim RM160,000 in damages after allowing her civil suit against the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), 15 of its officers, and seven others over her unlawful arrest and detention during a private fundraising event in 2016. In his judgment, High Court Judge Su Tiang Joo ordered the defendants to pay RM100,000 in exemplary damages, RM60,000 in aggravated damages, and RM100,000 in legal costs to the plaintiff (Siti Kasim). The court held that Siti Kasim, whose full name is Siti Zabedah Kasim, had proven on the balance of probabilities that she was wrongfully arrested and falsely imprisoned by two Jawi officers after exiting the ballroom of the hotel where the event was held. "In my considered view, there was misfeasance in public office by the defendants in conducting a raid and apprehending a participant at a state event, without ensuring the lawful exercise of their powers, thereby causing unnecessary fear and discomfort,' the judge said. Siti Kasim filed the suit in September 2019, claiming false imprisonment, misfeasance in public office, and a violation of her constitutional right to personal liberty under the Federal Constitution. She maintained that she had not obstructed any officer and was merely discharging her duties as a legal practitioner at the time of the incident. On August 21, 2020, the Magistrates' Court here acquitted and discharged Siti Kasim of the charge of obstructing public servants, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case under Section 186 of the Penal Code. - BERNAMA
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Siti Kasim awarded RM160,000 in damages over unlawful arrest by Jawi
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has awarded lawyer and activist Siti Kasim RM160,000 in damages after allowing her civil suit against the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), 15 of its officers, and seven others over her unlawful arrest and detention during a private fundraising event in 2016. In his judgment, High Court Judge Su Tiang Joo ordered the defendants to pay RM100,000 in exemplary damages, RM60,000 in aggravated damages, and RM100,000 in legal costs to the plaintiff (Siti Kasim). The court held that Siti Kasim, whose full name is Siti Zabedah Kasim, had proven on the balance of probabilities that she was wrongfully arrested and falsely imprisoned by two Jawi officers after exiting the ballroom of the hotel where the event was held. "In my considered view, there was misfeasance in public office by the defendants in conducting a raid and apprehending a participant at a state event, without ensuring the lawful exercise of their powers, thereby causing unnecessary fear and discomfort," the judge said. Siti Kasim filed the suit in September 2019, claiming false imprisonment, misfeasance in public office, and a violation of her constitutional right to personal liberty under the Federal Constitution. She maintained that she had not obstructed any officer and was merely discharging her duties as a legal practitioner at the time of the incident. On August 21, 2020, the magistrates' court here acquitted and discharged Siti Kasim of the charge of obstructing public servants, ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case under Section 186 of the Penal Code. – Bernama
