You can’t renounce Islam without permission, you know, even in modern, moderate Malaysia. Lina Joy lost her case, which doesn’t bode well for Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah. “Dec 3 Decision By Syariah Court On Muslim Convert To Renounce Islam,” from Bernama (thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist):
PENANG, Aug 10 (Bernama) — The Penang Syariah High Court Friday postponed to December 3 to decide on an application by a Muslim convert to renounce Islam.
Judge Othman Ibrahim made the order to allow Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah to be referred to the Penang Islamic Religious Department (Jaip) for guidance and counselling.
“The decision is shelved pending further instruction to refer the plaintiff to Jaip’s Ukhuwah Unit for counselling and a report to be submitted within three months,” he said.
Siti Fatimah, previously known as Tan Ean Huang, 38, from Nibong Tebal, filed her application to renounce Islam on July 10 last year.
In her affidavit, she stated that she had never practised Islamic teachings since embracing the religion on July 25, 1998.
She claimed that she did not believe in Islam and that she converted to the religion to enable her to marry an Iranian by the name of Ferdoun Ashanian. The couple married on Sept 16, 2004.
Siti Fatimah filed the application to renounce Islam after her husband left her.
In her application, she claimed that she continued to eat pork and practised her Buddhist faith even after embracing Islam.