Malaysia’s religious police have wasted little time in enforcing the recent government decision to ban Irshad Manji’s latest book, Allah, Liberty and Love. Earlier today, the (Malaysian state of) Selangor contingent of enforcers of the Religion of Peace, Moderation, and Tolerance (or ‘Jais’ in Malay parlance) raided a publishing house in the Kuala Lumpur area, confiscating copies of the newly haram book and arresting the company’s director. Well, at least they are calling it a ‘raid’ now, but by this time tomorrow the Malaysian religious enforcers might be calling it an ‘inspection’. Following up this earlier story; ‘Director detained for publishing Irshad’s book’, The Star, May 29, 2012:
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) on
Tuesday raided a publishing house in Petaling Jaya and detained its
director over the publication of a controversial book by liberal Muslim
activist Irshad Manji.
Twenty Jais enforcement officers also confiscated 180 copies of the book ‘Allah, Liberty and Love’ from the
premises in the 11.30am raid.
Jais acting director Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad confirmed the seizure and arrest when contacted.
The company’s director was arrested under Section 16(1)(a) of the Selangor Syariah {Sharia] Criminal Enactment for allegedly publishing contentious
material against Syariah law.
He was later released on a RM1,800 [USD 570] bail with one surety by Syariah Magistrate’s Court judge Shahrudin Selamat.
Mohd Shahzihan also gave Jais two months to prepare its case against the company and its director.
The Home Ministry has banned the book and its translated version
‘Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta’ [Allah, Liberty and Love in Malay] as it contradicted the Quran and Hadith.
The ministry decided to ban the book by Ugandan-born Canadian writer
Irshad Manji under Section 7 Subsection 1 of the Printing Presses and
Publications Act 1984, which prohibits materials deemed “offensive or
morally prejudicial”.
‘Morally prejudicial’ means anything that contradicts or criticizes Islam.
Irshad is also known to openly support the lesbian, gay and bisexual and transsexual lifestyles.
Her previous book The Trouble With Islam Today was banned in Malaysia in 2009.
There’s no mention in this story of whether the director, detained for violating Islamic law, is a Muslim or not. Would it make a difference? As for the impending proceedings that the direction and his company will soon be facing in an Islamic kangaroo sharia court, one can’t help but wonder if this case will prove to be yet another one of those foregone conclusions that Muslims seem to be so fond of.