http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/malaysia_religious_dispute;_ylt=Ak8TYA_cISLOxItGSlb7HWhhr7sF SHAH ALAM, Malaysia - A Muslim-born woman who was forced to spend six months in an Islamic rehabilitation center because she wants to live as a Hindu said Friday after her release that she will never return to her original faith. Revathi Masoosai, 29, said officials at the center tried to make her pray as a Muslim, wear a head scarf and eat beef, a practice sacrilege to Hindus. "Because of their behavior, I loathe Islam even more now," she told reporters. "They say it's a school, but it's actually a prison." Her case is one of a growing number of conflicts in Malaysia between religious freedom and state policies that favor Islam, the official faith of this southeast Asian nation. The battles have strained ethnic relations in the multicultural nation. Malaysia is considered one of the world's most relaxed Muslim countries, having enjoyed racial peace for nearly four decades. But it follows a dual justice system. Islamic, Shariah, courts administer the personal affairs of Muslims, while civil courts govern Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and other religious minorities. Under Islamic law, a person who is born Muslim cannot convert to another religion. The Islamic Religious Department in southern Malacca state detained Revathi, an ethnic Indian, in January and sent her for religious counseling after officials discovered she had married a Hindu man. Revathi was released from the rehabilitation center Thursday, and she appeared in a High Court on Friday in an attempt to have her detention declared illegal. Though she already has served the time, her lawyers said they wanted to bring the case to court as a matter of principle and to possibly set a precedent for future cases. Tuah Atan, a lawyer representing the Islamic department, said officials remain hopeful that Revathi might still return to Islam. "From the facts of the case, the authorities still strongly feel she can reform," Tuah said. Revathi was born to Indian Muslim parents who gave her a Muslim name, Siti Fatimah. She was raised as a Hindu by her grandmother and changed her name in 2001, but her official papers still say she is Muslim. Revathi married Suresh Veerappan in 2004 according to Hindu rites and gave birth to a daughter in December 2005. But the marriage was not legally registered because under Malaysian law Suresh would have had to convert to Islam first. Islamic officials seized the couple's 18-month-old daughter from her Hindu father in March and handed the child to Revathi's Muslim mother. Revathi said officials have ordered her to live with her mother for now and to continue undergoing counseling. Lim Kit Siang, chairman of the opposition Democratic Action Party, said Friday that moderate Muslims must be concerned by such cases because they could hurt Malaysia's image by showing "a narrow and intolerant face of Islam."
well, kind of strange.. u get soo much for what is not your fault! you were born not by your choice! I guess new law will come which should decide religion once you are 18.. and under 18 yrs old all over the world would have same religion!!
she'll be murdered before she gets to a court case, so as not to make Islam look bad. yet her murder will do more harm to Islam. they just dont see that people have the right to choose.
Please try and post in the correct category. The Religous & Politics section was created for stuff like this.
She should have no choice in the matter, shes is a muslim for life until death (hopefully soon). The isn't really what i believe but for religious harmony, i said the above. I wouldn't want to be called someone who hates muslims, Realm, lucozade?
Absolutely idiotic. How can anyone be "born" a muslim? Chapter 9 of the god delusion by richard dawkins highlights this foolish practice of labeling children with religions before they have the ability to think & choose for themselves.
I totally agree with eXe here (rep added), no one should choose someones religion other than themselves and they should have the right to do what they want and not have people here saying stuff like "She is lucky to get away with it." These Islamic rule making people need to seriously think about themselves IMO there the new Nazis.
Over stupid cartoons muslims made a big noise. But over putting in innocent person, a mother of child in prison, over holding women and children in a mosque as a human shield in Pakistan no demonstrations from muslims around the world. And now we have to even accept Islam is a religion from God. There are good muslims for sure. Those who don't really know and follow Islam. Those who really follow it, if given a chance will strip you from your basic rights you enjoy in the west.
Some may agree it is wrong but in many countries they are probably afraid to protest. If your society is so corrupt that the government would put you in a prison away from your family because you refuse to follow islam, and take your child away from your husband... Maybe even if you were not so brainwashed by islam and could comprehend that this is wrong, you just might be afraid to speak out because the government might hurt your family? I feel lucky to be in the US.
Why would you feel lucky to be in the US? Once a loved nation, it is now the most hated in the world.... I have hope that it can turn itself around though.
No truth in above statement. Islam never forces anybody for Religion. You can not be a Muslim until you accept Islam by heart. In Islam it is not allowed to force anybody for embrace Islam. If you want to change religion it's at your own will. Please visit this site. It may help you in clearing your doubts about Islam. http://minhaj.org/org/index.php?lang=en
I think you could be correct. I believ in Islam, a person is encouraged to question the faith and not merely submit themesleves too readily because that way their faith will be all the more stronger for it. Forcing another person to convert is a sinful act on the person doing the forsing.
I Love the USA, they gave us computers, the Internet, Google, Yahoo, MSN. LOL , I could go on and on. And I respect their way of doing business. Oh yes, they gave us Digital Point too
statement is very true, if you are born in a muslim family in india or pakistan u have to stay muslim , or the community and gov't will kill u
So whats your thoughts about the said incident? I dont see any of you commenting on the situation of that poor girl.
They don't have any? i mean 2 defend Islam by lying & forget about the women, don't care or believe it's just, the other just wants to bash America