“It is against our Constitution. You cannot simply ask other races to come, convert (them). This is against the law,” Perkasa Youth chief Irwan Fahmi Idris told reporters today after lodging a police report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) raided Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) late Wednesday during NGO Harapan Komuniti’s multiracial dinner, on suspicion of Muslim proselytisation at the event.
Selangor executive councillor Datuk Hasan Ali said last Thursday the words “Quran” and “pray” were used in the presence of Muslims at the function, claiming that this was part of the authorities’ evidence of Christians proselytising to Muslims.
Pro-Umno newspapers Berita Harian and Harian Metro have highlighted since Saturday allegations that Christian organisations are secretly trying to convert impoverished Muslims through welfare aid, such as cash, free food and housing.
Hasan had said the authorities had discovered further materials to prove there were attempts to proselytise a religion other than Islam to Muslims, but did not disclose what these were.
He added that several Muslims had attempted to flee the premises through the church’s back door, but were successfully stopped by Jais.
Christian churches have demanded evidence behind such accusations, while a priest has dismissed them as old rumours used to pit Muslims against Christians.
“From my point of view, it is a very seldom if you help somebody without expecting anything (in return), very rare. Whatever things that are related to Muslims, please refer to Jais or refer to religious authorities.
“We, as Muslims, do not (try to convert) others even though our religion is the religion for this country,” Irwan said.
The Youth chief said the police should question Harian Metro’s report saying that a Muslim who was interviewed was given a Bible in Malay.
“Islam’s position is written in the Constitution, such as Article 11 (4). Although the law provides for religious freedom, it limits against preaching,” he said.
Irwan cited Selangor’s Non-Islamic Religions (Control of Propagation Amongst Muslims) Enactment (1988), which outlines offences deemed as acts of proselytisation by non-Muslims towards Muslims, and grants the religious authorities powers to launch investigations and arrest individuals without producing a warrant.
The law also makes it a crime for someone to persuade, influence, become a follower or member of a religion other than Islam, or leave the Islam religion.
“They can be investigated under Section 10 of the Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995,” he said.
He stress that the police should investigate the claim immediately before it created a non-harmonious atmosphere in the country.
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