Council of religions to appeal to rulers over 'forced conversions'
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism is appealing to the Malay Rulers for "justice and fair-play" in cases of forced conversions.
Council president Datuk A.Vaithilingam told a press conference recently that "we will go through the appropriate procedure by writing an appeal to the rulers to consider the plight of non-Muslims caught in controversial religious conversions and in the application of the Syariah court rules as well as the actions carried out by Islamic religious bodies on non-Muslims".
He also stressed the council's stand against conversion of any child aged below 18, unless with both parents' consent. "In the case of a (non-Muslim) married couple with children, where one spouse converts, he or she has no right to convert the children until the civil court decides on divorce, custody and alimony. Because they were married under the Civil Marriages Act, the Syariah Court has no power over them," he said.
He also stressed that the council was not against Islam but questions the approach of the Syariah Court and Islamic religious officials in "controversial religious conversions".
"We also question the government's promise of amending the family law. Stop assuring things and show some action. "Everyone is very sympathetic. There is no use being sympathetic if it is mere sympathy without action," he added - Agencies.
Council president Datuk A.Vaithilingam told a press conference recently that "we will go through the appropriate procedure by writing an appeal to the rulers to consider the plight of non-Muslims caught in controversial religious conversions and in the application of the Syariah court rules as well as the actions carried out by Islamic religious bodies on non-Muslims".
He also stressed the council's stand against conversion of any child aged below 18, unless with both parents' consent. "In the case of a (non-Muslim) married couple with children, where one spouse converts, he or she has no right to convert the children until the civil court decides on divorce, custody and alimony. Because they were married under the Civil Marriages Act, the Syariah Court has no power over them," he said.
He also stressed that the council was not against Islam but questions the approach of the Syariah Court and Islamic religious officials in "controversial religious conversions".
"We also question the government's promise of amending the family law. Stop assuring things and show some action. "Everyone is very sympathetic. There is no use being sympathetic if it is mere sympathy without action," he added - Agencies.
