'Mum's consent a must for child to be converted'

The Islamic position on child conversion is that a child can only be converted with the consent of the mother, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said today.

Speaking to reporters in the lobby of Parliament House, Anwar said the Pakatan Rakyat parties would continue to discuss the move to amend the Islamic law on the conversion of minors with one another, before taking an official stand.

He was referring to the tabling of the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 in Parliament last week, which will allow only one parent's consent, or that of the guardian, to convert a minor to Islam.

"There's a specific case where the Prophet Muhammad sent a child back to the mother because the mother did not convert to Islam and only the father did so," Anwar said.

"We are looking at it (the bill) thoroughly. I have had discussions with (PAS president) Hadi Awang and (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng," he said.

He said Pakatan was also meeting with NGOs to determine the situation, including Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan.

However, Anwar stressed, the conversion bill should not create a "divide" between Muslims and non-Muslims.

"We will sit with all the relevant parties," he added.