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The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hindusim, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) refers to the case of
Banggarma Subramaniam, 27 (a.k.a. Siti Hasnah Vengarama Abdullah) who has said that she was converted to Islam at the tender age of 7. Banggarma says this was done by the welfare home, whilst the welfare authorities say it was done by her father. |
MALAYSIAN CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF BUDDHISM, CHRISTIANITY, HINDUISM,
SIKHISM AND TAOISM
MCCBCHST Media Release: 24 November 2009
Banggarma should have complete freedom to choose her own religion
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity,
Hindusim, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) refers to the case of
Banggarma Subramaniam, 27 (a.k.a. Siti Hasnah Vengarama Abdullah) who
has said that she was converted to Islam at the tender age of 7.
Banggarma says this was done by the welfare home, whilst the welfare
authorities say it was done by her father.
In any case, Banggarma has vigorously and categorically asserted that
for most of her life, she has lived as a Hindu and that she is now a
Hindu.
We object most strongly to the suggestion by the Honorable Deputy
Minster for Islamic Affairs (as reported in the newspapers of 19th
November, 2009) that Banggarma must go to the Syariah Court to
ascertain her status, a statement repeated by Welfare Department’s
Director General Meme Zainal Rashid. Penang Islamic Council President
Shabudin Yahaya meanwhile stated that she will have to undergo the
standard procedure to leave Islam and to undergo counseling.
We recall that Dr. Syed Ali Tawfil Al-Attas, the Director-General of
IKIM, was quoted in The Star of 1st May, 2007 as saying that a child,
deemed ignorant, cannot convert to Islam as the child does not
understand the “kalimah shahadah” and cannot bear witness of his/her
own free will and understanding.
According to Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, every person is
guaranteed the freedom to profess and practice his or her religion.
It is our view that Banggarma, upon reaching the age of majority,
should have complete freedom to choose her own religion without having
to go through any procedure or counseling.
In some States, people deemed to be Muslims face possible terms of
imprisonment and punishment for “apostasy” or for “attempting to leave
Islam” or “insulting the religion of Islam”. This renders illusory
their exercise of the freedom of religion protected by our Federal
Constitution and by all international norms.
The Syariah Courts only have jurisdiction over “persons professing the
religion of Islam”. Banggarma does not profess the religion of Islam –
she professes herself to be a Hindu. It is not proper to require her
to go to the Syariah Court before she is allowed to profess her
religion of Hinduism.
We therefore reiterate our calls, made many times before, for the
authorities to put in place legislative reforms to ensure that Islam,
and Islamic law, is not forced upon people like Banggarma who do not
profess themselves as Muslim.
Rev. Dr Thomas Philips,
MCCBCHST President |
