Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Pls spread this news – can refer to Sun paper (2/4 and 3/4).
finally, MCCBCHST is doing something about this. let’s all join in and support them. many of us argue on the forums abt the injustice happening to Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Taosists, Sikhs, etc. Let’s show our support and join in the prayer sessions. fill up the churches, temples, gurdwaras.
It will be great if MCCBCHST can come out with arm bands or car stickers to support this event.
all this happening due to the cowardly act of the husband (saravanan) who misuse islam. his action just spoil the religion’s name. hopefully the rest of the muslims realise this. ms subashini will be better off without him.
m poobalan
www.poobalan.com/blog
www.friendster.com/mpoobalan
Religious Council: Prayers not move to undermine Islam, Muslims
Subashini files appeal to Federal Court
Maria J.Dass
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=17482
PETALING JAYA (April 2, 2007): The initiative by non-Muslim groups to hold prayers for and read out letters nationwide in support of justice, fairness and respect for their constitutional rights is not meant to undermine Islam or Muslims, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) said.
Instead, the efforts are to create awareness among non-Muslims regarding recent court judgments, and help them understand the implications of conversion to Islam.
Council president Datuk Chee Peck Kiat said the initiatives had also received support from Muslims, including from Sisters in Islam (SIS) and Umno MP Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, noting that they had spoken up on the injustices caused by the lack of religious freedom, and the recent civil court decision to direct non-Muslims to the syariah court.
“We urge all fair minded Malaysians, irrespective of their religion, to voice their grievances against this injustice through proper and peaceful channels, and to do all that is possible, and pray that justice and freedom of religion be restored,” he said today.
He was speaking in a press conference to launch a series of special prayers following the March 13 Court of Appeal judement directing R. Subashini, a Hindu, to seek recourse through the syariah court.
The court, in a majority decision, had also dismissed SubashiniÂ’s appeal to stop her Muslim-convert husband, Muhammad Shafi Saravanan Abdullah, from going to the syariah court to dissolve their civil marriage, seek custody of their children and unilaterally convert their young child.
However last Friday (March 30), the same bench granted Subashini an interim injunction preventing her husband from proceeding with his case in the syariah court pending the disposal of her application to the Federal court.
“The fact that the wife has been granted temporary respite by the court does not detract from the seriousness of the original decision,” Chee said.
In a statement today, SIS said the Muslim group believed in justice and the non-discrimination of people of other faiths as enshrined in Islam.
“We support any initiative that affirms the supremacy of the Constitution that has been agreed by all ethnic groups in Malaysia,” SIS said.
The prayer sessions by MCCBCHST over this week will coincide with the Christian Holy Week, the Hindu and Tamil New Year, and Cheng Beng (ChineseÂ’s All Souls Day).
Christian Federation of Malaysia executive secretary Rev. Dr Hermen Shastri said: “We will pray that the government will be moved by moral conscience to rectify the situation, by upholding laws in the Constitution.”
The Buddhist community will also hold prayer sessions over the next three months during the full moon.
“Our devotees have to understand these issues, that once you enter (convert to Islam), it is very difficult to leave,” Malaysian Buddhist Association adviser Ng Hong Pau said.
