Wisma Putra: Malaysia shuts embassy in Iran, orders diplomats home amid rising Middle East tensions
KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 – Malaysia has temporarily shut its embassy in Iran and ordered the immediate return of all diplomatic staff following escalating tensions in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said today.
New Straits Times quoted him saying the decision was made in response to a wave of Israeli airstrikes on Iran, with Malaysia joining several other countries that have already withdrawn their diplomatic missions from the country.
'I have instructed all embassy personnel, including the ambassador, to leave. All Malaysians have been asked to exit Iran,' he said.
He added that some have declined to leave, including three students in Qom and one in Isfahan, who are based far from Tehran.
Last week, Putrajaya said all Malaysians currently in Iran have been strongly urged to leave the country immediately amid the heightened security situation following Israel's aggression against Iran.
The Foreign Ministry said the situation in Iran remains highly volatile and may take a turn for the worse without warning.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil previously said that the government would evacuate all Malaysians from Iran yesterday.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Higher Education said it will continue to monitor Malaysian students currently in Iran after identifying seven there, although the exact number remains uncertain as some are there under self-sponsorship.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
33 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Fatwa can't bind SIS Forum as a company, says chief justice; case focused on administrative powers, not Islamic tenets
PUTRAJAYA, June 21 — The appeal by Sisters in Islam (SIS) Forum (Malaysia) does not concern the substantive beliefs in the religion of Islam, its mandates or doctrines relating to the Islamic faith but relates to the exercise of legal powers by certain state authorities, says the Federal Court in its judgment. Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said the challenge only concerned the review of the Selangor State Fatwa Committee, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and the Selangor government's exercise of certain powers under the law, which is distinct from the substance and contents of their decisions. 'While it concerns a certain fatwa (religious edict), the case has neither to do with the substantive beliefs held in the religion of Islam nor does it have anything to do with the administration of the substantive aspects of the religion of Islam,' she said in the 40-page majority judgment. The top judge said in all civilised democracies with independent judiciaries, it is routine for the executive's decisions to be subjected to judicial review and in most cases, the subject matter of the exercise of discretion in the plaint is not the main issue rather the manner in which the decision was made. On Thursday, the Federal Court bench, in a 3-1 majority ruling, held that the 2014 fatwa issued by the Selangor State Fatwa Committee and gazetted by the Selangor state government is valid, but only insofar as it applies to individuals, not companies. The court ruled that a fatwa cannot be imposed on an organisation like SIS Forum as it is not capable of professing a religion. The ruling partially allowed the appeal by SIS Forum and its co-founder Zainah Mahfoozah Anwar to quash the 2014 fatwa, which had declared the group as deviating from Islamic teachings. In the written judgment released on the judiciary's website, Justice Tengku Maimun explained that the Selangor state government and the religious bodies are part of the executive branch and are empowered by the Federal Constitution and laws passed by the Selangor State Legislative Assembly (SLA). 'The fact that they deal with matters pertaining to Islamic faith, dogma and doctrine — are beside the point and these matters are, in any event, not within our purview (of the Civil Court),' she said. Justice Tengku Maimun said that under Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution, the Shariah Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over matters within their scope. However, if the Shariah Courts act beyond their jurisdiction, they remain subject to judicial review by the Superior Courts. She reiterated that SIS Forum's legal challenge did not question the contents of the fatwa but the way it affected them. This, she said, involved constitutional importance and administrative law, which is for the Superior Courts to determine. The Chief Justice also reminded all judges that judgments of the Federal Court, unless overruled by a later decision of the same court, are binding and failure to abide by them is an affront to the administration of the justice system. In the judgment, Tengku Maimun also said a fatwa, once gazetted, carries the force of law and is not mere suggestion, and it is binding on all Muslims in the state and the Shariah Courts. — Bernama
The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
Putin says Russia has told Israel there's no evidence Iran wants nuclear weapons, Sky News Arabia reports
MOSCOW: Russia has repeatedly told Israel that there is no evidence Iran is aiming to get nuclear weapons, Sky News Arabia on Saturday quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying in an interview. 'Russia, as well as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), has never had any evidence that Iran is preparing to obtain nuclear weapons, as we have repeatedly put the Israeli leadership on notice,' Sky News Arabia quoted Putin as saying. Russia is ready to support Iran in developing a peaceful nuclear programme, Putin was quoted as saying, adding that Iran has the right to do so. Speaking at an economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday, Putin said Russia was sharing its ideas on how to stop the bloodshed in the Iran-Israel conflict with both sides. He did not give details of those ideas.
Malay Mail
36 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
SIS Forum partially wins appeal — fatwa upheld for individuals, not organisations, says Chief Justice
PUTRAJAYA, June 21 — The appeal by Sisters in Islam (SIS) Forum (Malaysia) does not concern the substantive beliefs in the religion of Islam, its mandates or doctrines relating to the Islamic faith but relates to the exercise of legal powers by certain state authorities, says the Federal Court in its judgment. Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said the challenge only concerned the review of the Selangor State Fatwa Committee, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and the Selangor government's exercise of certain powers under the law, which is distinct from the substance and contents of their decisions. 'While it concerns a certain fatwa (religious edict), the case has neither to do with the substantive beliefs held in the religion of Islam nor does it have anything to do with the administration of the substantive aspects of the religion of Islam,' she said in the 40-page majority judgment. The top judge said in all civilised democracies with independent judiciaries, it is routine for the executive's decisions to be subjected to judicial review and in most cases, the subject matter of the exercise of discretion in the plaint is not the main issue rather the manner in which the decision was made. On Thursday, the Federal Court bench, in a 3-1 majority ruling, held that the 2014 fatwa issued by the Selangor State Fatwa Committee and gazetted by the Selangor state government is valid, but only insofar as it applies to individuals, not companies. The court ruled that a fatwa cannot be imposed on an organisation like SIS Forum as it is not capable of professing a religion. The ruling partially allowed the appeal by SIS Forum and its co-founder Zainah Mahfoozah Anwar to quash the 2014 fatwa, which had declared the group as deviating from Islamic teachings. In the written judgment released on the judiciary's website, Justice Tengku Maimun explained that the Selangor state government and the religious bodies are part of the executive branch and are empowered by the Federal Constitution and laws passed by the Selangor State Legislative Assembly (SLA). 'The fact that they deal with matters pertaining to Islamic faith, dogma and doctrine — are beside the point and these matters are, in any event, not within our purview (of the Civil Court),' she said. Justice Tengku Maimun said that under Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution, the Shariah Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over matters within their scope. However, if the Shariah Courts act beyond their jurisdiction, they remain subject to judicial review by the Superior Courts. She reiterated that SIS Forum's legal challenge did not question the contents of the fatwa but the way it affected them. This, she said, involved constitutional importance and administrative law, which is for the Superior Courts to determine. The Chief Justice also reminded all judges that judgments of the Federal Court, unless overruled by a later decision of the same court, are binding and failure to abide by them is an affront to the administration of the justice system. In the judgment, Tengku Maimun also said a fatwa, once gazetted, carries the force of law and is not mere suggestion, and it is binding on all Muslims in the state and the Shariah Courts. — Bernama
