‘Inhumane to separate son from mum’

Deepa's mother is disappointed with an ustaz, whom she knows well, for not seeking Deepa's consent in the conversion of the children.

JELEBU: S Deepa’s mother, a Muslim convert, said it was inhumane for an uztaz from Pusat Dakwah Islamiah Negeri Sembilan to separate an underaged son from his mother.

Siti Aishah Abdullah, 50, said she was disappointed because the ustaz knew her well.

“The ustaz himself was a Hindu before. He should understand better the repercussion of my grandchildren’s conversion because he did not get the consent from Deepa, who is a Hindu.

“The ustaz knows me well and should have contacted me first to discuss the matter.

“I don’t know how he got the heart to separate Mithran and Sharmila who were five and eight respectively last year by converting them to Islam without Deepa’s knowledge.

“Deepa is a caring mother and concerned about the children’s education,” Siti Aishah told FMT.

She said the ustaz told Deepa to visit him so that he could reverse the conversion but instead urged her to convert to Islam.

She also said her former son-in-law, Izwan Viran Abdullah, 31, had sent Mithran to his sister’s house, who is a Hindu, after the Seremban Syariah Court had given custody of the children last year.

“He, too, sends the children to his Hindu sister. Do the ustaz and officer in Pusat Dakwah know this?” she asked.

“Izwan Viran’s argument doesn’t make sense. At least here, when Deepa sends Mithran and Sharmila to my house while she goes to work, either me or my husband Mohd Sofi Yusof can take care of them.

“Does the ustaz in Pusat Dakwah know for sure Izwan Viran is not patronising non-halal restaurants and consuming alcohol?” she asked.

Deepa’s step-father Mohd Sofi Yusof, 53, said Mithran and Sharmila should be under the custody of Deepa.

“As a father I admit there is no better person to raise the children other than the mother.

“No matter how good a father is we can’t care like a mother.

“Even in Islam we are reminded not to go against your mother.

“In Malay, there is proverb which says ‘syurga ditapak kaki ibu’ (heaven is at your mother’s feet).

“But in Mithran and Sharmila’s conversion case, Deepa did not get a proper and fair treatment from Pusat Dakwah nor the Syariah Court.

IGP under fire

In another development, Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chairman R Sanjeevan asked why the Inspector-General of Police did not act against Izwan Viran for the violating the court order.

“The IGP said that the police are bound to both civil and Syariah Court orders.

“If the police cannot take action based on the Syariah Court order they should have acted against Izwan Viran for violating the restraining order.

“Deepa suffered injuries when Izwan Viran abducted the son and there is element of criminal intent.

“If Deepa has abducted her son from Izwan Viran, does the IGP react in the same way,” he asked.

Earlier this month, Deepa, who is a Hindu, won her divorce from Izwan Viran through a decision by the Seremban High Court, which also granted her custody of the children. It also allowed weekly visits for Izwan Viran.

Izwan Viran subsequently abducted his son and reportedly assaulted Deepa in the process.

Despite a public uproar, IGP Khalid Abu Bakar said there would be no police action over the abduction, citing the Syariah Court’s decision last year to give Izwan Viran custody of the children.