From Council of Churches of Malaysia
CCM Press Statement on Court of Appeal Judgement on Lina Joy
The Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) views with great regret and concern the majority judgement that was made yesterday by the Federal Court.
We believe that the constitutional provision in Article 11 which guarantees freedom of religion in our country has been severely diminished.
The majority judgement has denied the individual a right guaranteed under the constitution, a right to freedom of conscience and choice of religion. It would appear that the constitution is being read subject to extraneous (Syariah) considerations.
It is, therefore, vital that the necessary legislation be enacted to ensure that no citizen would feel penalized when he or she exercises the individual right to choose a faith and to practice it in freedom.
The CCM calls on the government to set in motion measures to protect religious freedom as originally envisaged in the Federal Constitution of 1957.
On this our 50th anniversary of Merdeka we cannot feel a strong sense of celebration when a citizen like Lina Joy, and others like her, are denied their fundamental rights, taken away from them from the very courts that are duty bound to protect the civil liberties of all citizens and treat all as equal under the law.
| Rev. Dr. Thomas Philips President |
Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri General Secretary |
Dated: 31st May 2007
From National Evangelical Christian Fellowship Malaysia
NECF MALAYSIA’S RESPONSE TO THE LINA JOY JUDGEMENT
NECF Malaysia is gravely disappointed by and dissatisfied with the Federal Court’s dismissal of Lina Joy’s appeal.
First of all, the Federal Court’s decision does not uphold the constitutional safeguard of freedom of religion. It is a person’s fundamental right to profess a religion of her own choice free from compulsion or interference by the state or its institutions. Freedom of religion under the Federal Constitution can only be restrained where a person acts contrary to any general law affecting public order, public health or morality. Therefore, it defies all logic that Lina Joy’s freedom to profess and exercise a faith of her own choice can be subject to administrative barrier in the NRD refusing to effect a change to her religious status except upon the order of the Syariah Court.
The foundational principle of supremacy of the Constitution over all other laws must be upheld.
NECF Malaysia is also deeply dismayed that the majority decision of the highest court has failed to bring about resolution to the present interfaith issues. By insisting that a person who no longer professes the religion of Islam but has embraced another religion to seek an order of the Syariah Court is equivalent to insisting that a muallaf 1 who has attained the age of majority is obliged to seek the clearance of the religious leaders or authority of his former religion. Mutual respect and tolerance surely cannot be fostered without due regard to the principle of reciprocity.
In affirming the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Federal Court has perpetuated a most unfair and untenable position for Lina Joy and others in a similar dilemma. They now cannot enjoy the full rights as citizens as they are trapped in a religion which they no longer profess and are unable to lawfully marry, have children and live in accordance with the values, precepts and practices of the religion of their choice.
Finally, NECF Malaysia is extremely concerned that the Lina Joy case demonstrates the highest civil court retreating in the face of the relentless onslaught on their position as the third institution in a democratic system of government. In the hierarchy of the judiciary, the Federal Court is vested the judicial power of the Federation.
In this case, the judiciary has unfortunately failed to play its most important role of being both the guardians and interpreters of our Constitution. As an institution above the fray of politics, it is the only institution that can neutrally and without partisan considerations decide the serious issues raised in the Lina Joy case. It is constrained only by true and loyal allegiance to the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution, the twin pillars of our Rukunegara.
In the civil court’s abdicating its judicial power in religious matters on the basis of Article 121 (IA) of the Constitution, the Federal Court is placing undue stress and strain on the government to legislate or amend related laws when the due exercise of its judicial power as interpreter of the Constitution would have brought about a fair and just resolution to the issues.
While the country has undergone a significant shift towards “islamization” since the 1980s, the proclamation of Malaysia as an Islamic country in 2001, though a political expediency, has had considerable psychological impact and further polarized Malaysian citizens of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. Religious vigilantism has been heightened among not only the religious ones, but also the bureaucrats. Administrative actions whether in policies or laws are being implemented without scrupulous regard to the requirements of the policies or laws but with the imposition of syariah rules and requirements. For example, non-Muslim police women are to wear Muslim headscarves for the annual parade. The happenings in recent years are indeed grave concerns. Among others, there are religious authorities breaking up families in the name of religion, the custody tussles between a non-Muslim parent and a Muslim parent, and public morality based on the principles of a particular religion.
The Christian community acknowledges the special position of Islam as the State religion for ceremonial purposes, and recognizes the application of Islamic family laws to those professing the religion of Islam in areas outlined in the Federal Constitution. We uphold the sanctity of the Malaysian Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and it is our hope that the Prime Minister, who has publicly declared to be the Prime Minister of all Malaysians, would fulfil his promises to establish a clean, just, harmonious and prosperous nation.
The decision of the Federal Court sets a landmark example of making legal judgement based on religious sentiment and thus inadvertently disregarding the fundamental right of an individual to profess and practice the religion of his or her choice. In the light of this, NECF Malaysia urges all Christian leaders to encourage their congregations to set aside time, both corporately and privately, to pray for our nation as a whole, in the next few weeks and months. Let us bring to God these matters of extreme gravity and urgency, and humbly ask Him to intervene so that truth, righteousness and godliness will prevail in our land.
The very basic structure of our nation, our institutions, our Constitution and the Rukunegara must remain the solid rock on which Malaysia will continue to prosper and stand tall among the community of nations, and on which all Malaysians strive and thrive together as a multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious society. Let us, the concerned citizens of Malaysia, exercise our rights to make a good decision at the right place and at the right platform.
_________
1 Muallaf: a convert from a non-Islamic religion who has chosen to profess Islam
From Christian Federation Malaysia
CFM Statement on Lina Joy’s Case
The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) is disturbed and saddened by the decision of the Federal Court in the Lina Joy’s case, where the Court has confirmed the National Registration Department’s right to insist on a certificate from the Syariah Court that she has apostatized, prior to registering her conversion in the identity card.
We reiterate that the NRD’s insistence on such a certificate being produced has curtailed the fundamental right of an individual to profess and express his or her religion as provided for in Article 11.
We have also noted with much concern that this decision reflects a growing trend of decisions in the courts where civil courts are abdicating their responsibility of providing legal redress to individuals who only seek to profess and live their religion according to their conscience.
As a result of this decision, it is now more pressing for the government and lawmakers to revisit the relevant legislation and to reinstate the jurisdiction of the Civil Courts so that equal protection of the right to choose and express one’s religion is accorded to all Malaysians, as enshrined in Article 11.
The CFM will continue to cooperate with the government and all Malaysians to uphold the Government’s vision of upholding the multiracial, multicultural and multireligious character of our nation.
Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing, SJ
Chairman and Executive Committee
Christian Federation of Malaysia
Dated 30th May 2007
i spoke to a few islam bloggers about it and i have a very different view about this now. talk more when i see u.
zewt – these are official statements. I think there’s also a need for more personal face to face conversations to look at the matter from various angles. Having said that, we will bound to have different (and even strong) opinions. What is important is we are willing to talk and listen and having some space for differences and yet pursing come ground where we can move forward together.
I read the story of Lina Joy, I felt sorry what she has gone through in her life. I was once christian (actually I came from an extremely strict catholic background ).I used to hate to go to church especially were force to do confession and because I was young that time, I just follow what I was taught and I , as a child be4, never question about who I am and my faith . But all of a sudden in my late 20’s , I am interested with religion and God. I started to question about life? I have been experiencing spiritual things but I chose not to share it for lots of reason. I believe faith is a personal matter between me and God. I strongly believe that each one of us are very special in the eyes of god, doesnt matter whether we muslim, christians , hindu , buddhist or any religions and we all were given the mind to think, heart to feel and ear to hear.
I wonder why people want to fight about religion? when they know the truth since the beginning God created the world and Human being (male and female). God never said Adam and Hawa I want you become christian or muslims. He never said here is a certificate for you to proved you a christians or muslims to prove you are part of God.
God never said about particular religion but he did said “Do not touch the tree Good and Evil”. Now, I believe faith is a matter of heart and when the heart will decide itself , our body will experiencing the events of life , this will create the situation and circumstances of life with the decision follow from our mind that no one cant changed as it will take effect from the impact of our individual experiences of our life. I can see religion has cause war and its sad God’s name was tagging along in every war..Did we ever question who create the war? why people still dont understand that religion is not to blamed here but its the people how they practised their own religion who do not know themselves and not look and feel what is surrounding them. When Lina Joy was condemned and she wants to be a christian , Do you think this is really God’s Law? Muslim means Submitting to God and I bet Lina Joy believes in God … So , why those religious ppl not want to understand in a broad minded way like how god created the world so vast and open mindedly. If these world is so narrow , I dont know how human being can survived? One thing I know and learn in my heart that God is a living God and all he wants us to be is “ourself” and give “Thanks” and personal praise and prayers that came from individuals heart.
I dont understand why Lina Joy was not given the rights to be who she wants to be? Why people so busy body try to stop her from converting and yet they forget to ask their heart.. ..”Who am I to judge Lina when I havent seen God” or meet God personally? People havent ask why this happen to her ? She might have her reason and we should respect her choice and dont be so judgemental. we must learn to understand about human life and be more supporting instead condemning her. I am tired to see people judging other people when they forget to look at themselves and they do not want to learn that Life is like a Mirror , It reflects to one another….so if Lina Joy believed in God and Jesus ..I think she entitle to her rights and we should praise that she has faith to God and not commiting a horrible crime … From what I learned the event in my life n seeing others , it became the most powerful experience that no one can ever changed a person perceptions or shake a person’s faith because of their experience it has shape them to be the person who they today.
I also tired of those muslim (not all muslims) who said to me that islam is the only true religion when some of them doesnt even know what is the meaning of “muslim”. I am so sad when some muslim (not all but Some muslim)said to me Jesus is fake when they forget to see in the Holy Quaran Jesus is part of them and Jesus is one of the prophet that they can never take away from their Holy Quran. So if Lina Joy does not allow to have her own choice and some muslim ppl think she made the wrong choice.. then its so hypocracy some of the muslim in Malaysia as they denying Lina like they denying Jesus(ISA) that exist in their own Holy Quran.
I loved both of these religion but I cant stand when people try to control people’s life and faith. I believe mistakes in life is part of growing process , we all went through the same but different situation and circumstances of life. I believe that no one exist in this world without making mistakes and no one leaving this world without any error in their life.
I believed Prophet Muhammad was chosen to be a Prophet because God sees the good qualities in him and in his time , so many people committing crime and people from different tribes killing each other because of misunderstanding . Jesus time also the same , its full of barbaric people and he was chosen to teach those people in his time about God . All the prophets of God went through the same experience and all have their own personal pain and suffering . Ain’t we all as human being also experience pain and suffering in our life ?