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Malaysia

  • High Court to Hear Arguments on Conversion

    On September 19, 2005, a superior court in Malaysia upheld an earlier decision that ethnic Malay people cannot convert from Islam.  The decision was in response to a case involving a Malay woman who converted to Christianity in 1998 and wished to change her religious designation so she could be married in a civil ceremony to her Christian husband (click here for more details). On April 13, Malaysia's highest court agreed to hear her case.  It is expected to take months before the Federal Court releases its ruling. The decision will have a profound effect on religious freedom in this country whose constitution states that "a Malay citizen is a person who professes Islam."
  • Update: Malaysian Court Rules Against Right to Convert

    The country of Malaysia consists of four main ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese, Indians and tribal peoples.  On September 19, a superior court upheld an earlier judgment that the Malay people cannot renounce Islam.  According to the Malaysian constitution, "A Malay citizen is a person who professes Islam."  For the approximately 15,000 Malay converts to Christianity, this means that they retain the official status of a Muslim, regardless of their religious beliefs. 

    In 1998, Azalina Jailani converted to Christianity and changed her name to Lina Joy. She went to court to force the National Registration Department to change her religious status from Islam to Christian so that she could be married in a civil ceremony to her Christian husband.  Her request was rejected when the judge ruled, "As a Malay, the plaintiff exists under the tenets of Islam until her death." (click here for details). Two of the three judges on the panel ruled that she could only change her status with the permission of Muslim religious authorities.  The third judge, a Hindu, held that she had the right to renounce Islam without permission, since the Malaysian constitution guarantees the freedom of religion.

    Pray for Lina and the other Malay Christians living in a state of constitutional limbo.  Pray for them as they experience social rejection and legal discrimination.  As one Christian woman told AsiaNews on September 21, "We are discriminated and virtually live underground lives. Our parents, siblings and friends all shun us like lepers."

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Malaysia,click here.
  • Refused the Right to Convert

    In 1998, Azlina Jailani became a Christian and adopted the name Lina Joy. She then began a process to have her religious status changed from Muslim to Christian on her identity card; a process which has now taken six years.

    According to Compass Direct, Lina Joy's case was rejected in May 2001, when a judge ruled, "As a Malay, the plaintiff exists under the tenets of Islam until her death." He also ruled that, since this was a religious matter, the case should be heard by the Islamic Sharia court, rather than the secular court. Since Islamic law declares that conversion from Islam is punishable by death, Joy knew that a Sharia court would not rule in her favour. She appealed the decision, on the basis of the Malaysian constitution which guarantees freedom of religion. Her case was heard by the Court of Appeal on October 14 and a decision is expected shortly.

    Under Malaysian law, apostates from Islam can face a three year sentence in a "faith rehabilitation center," where counselors try to persuade them to return to Islam. If they fail to repent in that time, they could face an additional six years. A similar case was heard by the High Court in July 2004, which upheld the sentence of four converts to Christianity.

    Pray for Lina Joy and other Christians facing discrimination and prison for their faith in Jesus Christ. Pray for strength to endure and the wisdom and faith to stand.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Malaysia,click here.
  • Ban on Iban-Language Bible Lifted

    A ban which called the Iban-language Bible a "detriment to public peace" has been lifted by the acting prime minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The ban was lifted because of an appeal from church leaders who explained that the Bible had been in use in Sarawak for 15 years. In lifting the ban, the prime minister reiterated that the ministry would ban books and magazines which are "disseminating extremist views and teachings on any religion."

    Original Persecution and Prayer Alert story published April 16, 2003:
    (News report April 25, 2003 - Bernama News Agency)
  • Iban-Language Bible Banned

    Iban-speaking Christians in the state of Sarawak in north-west Borneo are asking the government to clarify why the Malaysian Home Ministry has put the Iban-language Bible, "Bup Kudus" on a list of 35 books banned for being detrimental to public peace. According to the official news agency of Malaysia, BERNAMA, the Association of Churches in Sarawak has asked for an explanation, saying, "To find Bup Kudus banned now has caused confusion, fear, anxiety and alarm among the Christian community in Sarawak."

    Bup Kudus was first published in 1988 and is the only complete Bible in the Iban language. While more educated church members may understand English, rural churches in particular depend on the Scriptures in their native language.

    Pray that there will be a positive response from the government and that the Word of God will be available to the Iban-speaking people.

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