A dark day for Malaysia

LETTER | This is a dark day for Malaysia, says Sisters in Islam executive director Rozana Isa (photo, below) in response to a High Court decision which has upheld the fatwa against the organisation.

The decision, which has the effect of eroding rights guaranteed under the Federal Constitution with a fatwa, which is a state subsidiary ruling and not a legislative decision by the parliament.

This dangerously suggests that a fatwa may override our country’s Federal Constitution, and begs the question if the Federal Constitution is still the supreme law of the land?

The judgement represents a dark day not only for SIS but also for Muslim women in Malaysia. For over three decades, SIS has been carrying the voices of women from the ground to decision-makers and policymakers. Despite the fatwa, SIS remain instrumental in informing laws and conducting programs that continue to improve the lives of millions of women in Malaysia.

SIS has helped over 10,000 women and men through our Telenisa service – a free legal helpline which remains the only non-judgemental and rights-based advisory service for Islamic Family and Syariah Laws in Malaysia today.

Among other issues championed by SIS include ending child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), promoting gender equality in Muslim marriages and Islamic Family Laws, and taking a stance against gender-based violence and moral policing.

The upholding of the fatwa suggests that helping women to get justice in court, informing women of their rights, proposing reforms pertaining to Islamic Family Law, protecting children and engaging in intellectual discourse on Islam and women’s rights – all constitute to being deviant.

The judgement, which may affect public and private companies in Malaysia, sets a dangerous precedent whereby companies are now subjected to Syariah Laws and Hukum Syarak where it has Muslim individuals as its “directing minds,” for example, in the hospitality and entertainment industries. This may include not only the board of directors and shareholders but also the company’s decision making personnel, who are all now personally subjected to Syariah Laws via compliance to Hukum Syarak.

Despite promises of a progressive and forward-thinking Malaysia, it is extremely unfortunate that such a judgement has emerged that may curtail fundamental freedoms enshrined in our Federal Constitution.

While the fatwa continues to hang over our heads, SIS vows to continue championing the rights of women in Malaysia. After 62 years of independence, Malaysian women deserve better than this.

SISTERS IN ISLAM is a non-governmental organisation working towards advancing the rights of Muslim women in Malaysia within the framework of Islam, universal human rights principles, constitutional guarantees, as well as the lived realities and experiences of women.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.