Minister respects SIS ruling but says fatwas still vital for guiding Muslims
Religious affairs minister Na'im Mokhtar said fatwas remain essential to guiding Muslims on shariah matters. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : Religious affairs minister Na'im Mokhtar says the Federal Court's decision in favour of Sisters in Islam (SIS) will be studied in detail to ensure that the authority of the country's fatwa institution is not undermined.
Voicing respect for the court's ruling today, Naim nevertheless said that fatwas continued to play an important role in guiding Muslims on contemporary issues that require shariah-based direction.
'Strong cooperation between the judiciary, the legal system, and religious authorities is crucial to ensure that the function and authority of the fatwa institution continue to be respected within the framework of our country's constitutional system,' he said in a statement.
Nai'm said the unity government remained committed to upholding the administration of Islamic affairs in Malaysia fairly, in accordance with the principles of syura (consultation), knowledge, and the rule of law.
He also said that the government would continue to protect the role of Islamic institutions in line with Article 3 of the Federal Constitution, which recognises Islam as the religion of the federation.
The court earlier today quashed a 2014 fatwa issued by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council, which labelled SIS as 'deviant' for allegedly promoting liberalism and religious pluralism.
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who led the panel, said that a fatwa could not be imposed on an organisation like SIS, which could not 'profess' a religion.
She added that the phrase 'persons professing the religion of Islam' in the Federal Constitution refers exclusively to natural persons, not entities such as companies or organisations.
SIS failed in its previous challenge of the fatwa in the lower courts between 2019 and 2023.
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