Malaysian authorities have confiscated Christian children books claiming the graphic depiction of the patriarch, Abraham, and the prophet, Moses, is in violation of Islamic Sharia law.
The news was reported by Malaysakini, an independent news agency, and confirmed by the general-secretary of the Malaysian Council of Churches, Reverend Hermen Shastri, who was dumbfounded at the latest attempt made by zealous government officials to curtail religious freedom within the country.
He said he found it perplexing that the books, which is being confiscated, could be offensive to Muslims given it was targeted at Christians and second, the illustration holds spiritual significance to them.
"The officials have offended the sensitivities of Christians because their publications and depictions of their Biblical personalities have now become targets of unscrupulous Muslim officials bent on curtailing religious freedom in the country," Rev. Shastri said.
Rev. Shastri called for immediate actions to be taken to rectify this situation by making changes to the law thus restricting the officials in pursuing ‘fanciful’ claim.
"Immediate steps should be taken to amend administrative rules and regulations, especially in the Internal Security Ministry, that give a free hand to enforcement officials to act on their whim and fancies," he said.
Malaysia, though it has a strong Malay population most of which adhere to Islam, contains a significant minority populous. It is a multi-racial country where its Constitution protects the religious freedom of minority.
However over the past few years, the protection has been eroded where the highest civil court tends to side with Islamic authority in allowing Islamic law to override secular law that guarantees the choice of religion by an individual.
Recently, Lina-Joy, touted by many as a test-case for Malaysia secular image, has lost her case to have her Islamic religious affiliation amended to Christianity from her national identity card, with the court ruling that Islamic law should prevail.
World
Malaysian authorities confiscate Christian books
Malaysian authorities have confiscated Christian children books claiming the graphic depiction of the patriarch, Abraham, and the prophet, Moses, is in violation of Islamic Sharia law.
By: Christian Today Australia
Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 16:22 (EST)
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