Aug 2 hearing on bid to cite 5 Johor religious officers for contempt
Published on: Monday, July 03, 2023
By:
FMT, V Anbalagan
Fourteen plaintiffs are suing to nullify state laws that allow parents to unilaterally convert minors. (Bernama pic)
Kuala Lumpur: The High Court has fixed Aug 2 to hear Aisyah Ali’s application for leave to cite five officers of the Kota Tinggi Islamic department for contempt of court.
Aisyah claims the officers harassed her in April this year, after her case was made public. She is one of 14 plaintiffs suing to nullify unilateral conversion laws in several states and the federal territories.
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Rajesh Nagarajan, who represents the plaintiffs, said Justice Ahmad Kamal Shahid will preside over the case, which will be heard online.
At the case management today, the judge ordered all parties to file their written submissions on or before July 17.
The plaintiffs had filed the main suit on March 3 seeking to nullify state laws that allow one parent to convert their child, or children, to Islam without the consent of the other parent.
The plaintiffs include Hindu mother M Indira Gandhi who, on Jan 29, 2018, successfully got the Federal Court to nullify the unilateral conversion of her three children by ex-husband Riduan Abdullah, formerly K Pathmanathan.
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Also named as plaintiffs are the former chairman of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam, S Mohan, and Arun Dorasamy of Hindu Agamam Ani. Arun is also the chairman of the Indira Gandhi action team.
The remaining plaintiffs are residents of Perlis, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Johor and Kuala Lumpur, who have each named their respective state governments and the federal government as defendants.
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In her affidavit filed in April, Aisyah claimed the five officers harassed her, which she said amounted to an obstruction of justice and showed disrespect to the country.
Rajesh said Kamal also fixed the intervener application hearing for Sept 4, with parties requested to file their written submissions and reply by Aug 14.
Meanwhile, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council and the Kuala Lumpur shariah bar council have applied to join as parties to the suit, but the plaintiffs are objecting.
Rajesh said Kamal will also conduct case management on Sept 4 to give instructions on the main suit.
Lusinthra Pillai also appeared for the plaintiffs, while Radhi Abas from the state legal adviser’s office appeared for the Perlis government.
Federal Counsel Imtiyaz Wizni Aufa Othman represented the federal government, Nini Shirma Rahmat appeared for the shariah bar council, and Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar and his son Danial Farhan represented the religious council.
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