INSULTING ISLAM Dr. Kassim Ahmad, a thinker and former political and social activist is charged in a Syariah High Court with two counts of offences, insulting Islam and disobeying a Fatwa in relation to Anti-Hadith Group. Reportedly, as at June last year, 29 cases were being investigated for allegedly insulting Islam. I suspect that the figure can only increase by now. Indeed, offences such as “insulting the religion”, practising “deviationist teachings” disobeying a fatwa, or engaging in activities that “affect the purity of the aqidah” litter the states sharia laws so much that it is a crime for a Muslim in Malaysia to believe in or do or think differently from the “correct” Islam as defined by the religious authorities. To me, whether Dr.Kassim is right or wrong is not the issue. The issue is, each and everyone of us is guaranteed the fundamental liberties to think and express our opinion. Just like those who opined that touching dogs could cause tornadoes! As religious authorities are given power to enforce sharia, our freedom of thought, speech and expression are being curtailed while our religious freedom is essentially crippled. Is Insulting Islam really an offence in Islam? Does it have any basis in the Quran? Is there anywhere in the scriptures that says God has delegated to an earthly state or body the power to act on His behalf?
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 17:03:45 +0000
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