Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd, which operates the Borders bookstore chain, has been granted leave (permission) to challenge a raid on its Mid-Valley outlet and seizure of copies of the book 'Allah, Liberty and Love’.
Justice Rohana Yusof of the Kuala Lumpur High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) made the decision this morning in chambers.
She said there are merits to the application, that it is not premature and that the civil court has jurisdiction over the matter.
She also fixed the judicial review proceedings for Sept 15.
The other two applicants were named as Borders assistant general manager (operations and merchandising) Stephen Fung Wye Keong and Mid-Valley Borders store manager Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz.
Nik Raina had been charged on June 19 in the KL Syariah High Court under Section 13 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 (FTSCOA), with distributing publications that are contrary to Islam.If convicted, she is liable to a jail term of up to two years, a fine of not more than RM3,000 or both.
The raid on May 24 was conducted by the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi), at least five days before the Home Ministry gazetted the ban on the book by Ugandan-born Canadian author Irshad Manji.
[More to follow]
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