Indira open to advice on raising daughter as a Muslim

M Indira Gandhi, whose children's unilateral conversion to Islam was nullified by the Federal Court in a landmark decision last week, has said she is open to receiving advice from experts on Islamic matters.

Indira was asked whether she would send her youngest daughter Prasana Diksa – currently with her Muslim convert former husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah – to an Islamic school should she regain custody of the nine-year-old.

"Because we are not familiar on all these things, of course somebody should advise us on the proceedings so we would understand her situation better.

"I think that is the best way for us to know what we can do after meeting Prasana," she said in an interview with Malaysiakini.

Indira also responded to Persatuan Ulama Malaysia, which called into doubt her intention of bringing up Prasana as a Muslim.

"That's why I said, of course we don't know anything about the proper way of Islamic teachings, but if there is somebody to guide us, why not?"

The association’s president, Abdul Halim Abd Kadir, had said there was no guarantee that the nine-year-old Prasana would remain a practicing Muslim if she is returned to her mother.

Indira had previously said that she would not mind her daughter remaining a Muslim, despite the court nullifying the conversion.

‘I will do my part’

Meanwhile, asked whether she was open to allowing Islamic authorities to monitor Prasana should she regain custody of her youngest daughter, Indira said it was more important to meet her first.

"I do respect what Prasana prefers, right now she doesn't know what is happening. All this while she has been with her father, I do respect her feelings.

"I don't want a child to be confused, with the sudden change of all her surroundings so if she prefers to be a Muslim, I don't mind, but as a Hindu mother, I will teach her what is the best of everything.

"If she's willing to accept Islam it's fine with me, it's fine. But as a mother, I will do my part," she said, affirming that this will include exposing Prasana to basic Hindu teachings.

Nevertheless, Indira insisted that she would not prevent Prasana from performing her obligations as a Muslim, stating that the child is free to do whatever she wants, including conducting Islamic prayers.

"If that's the proceedings, of course she can do whatever she prefers.

"We don't want her to be confused, it's not going to be easy for her and for us as well as we're from totally different religions," she said.

While Indira admitted that it would be sad should Prasana choose to remain with her former husband, Indira said they could always visit each other.

"That was what we were asking from the beginning. Even though my ex was given access to the two children, he has never been there for them, I was willing to cooperate with him, but he was not there.

"I don't know why he has to hide, we were there saying we will compromise. Just bring Prasana, we can take turns to look after her," she said.

Indira was dumbfounded, however, as to the possible reasons behind the delay in arresting her former husband.

"Why do they have to hide, this matter has nothing to do with terrorism, I'm just asking to see my child.

"I have never put religion in front of any matter, I want to be with Prasana just as a mother and daughter, I don't know why they are hiding her.

Indira believes there is a possibility that there are hidden hands preventing the police from locating her former husband, adding that her former husband is likely still in the country.

"As I said, maybe they are not willing to expose him because it's a religious matter, (but) for me it has never been a religious matter.

"He has already converted, we are not questioning that. It's only about the child, she was only 11 months old, didn't know anything about Islam.

"It is such a pity she has to go through all this," she said.

‘Politicised from the start’

Asked whether she was concerned that her case would be politicised, Indira said it had already been politicised "from the beginning."

"That's why they are not giving back Prasana. There are just too many political issues, I don't know, but when I started this, I just wanted my daughter back," she said.

Apart from Prasana, Riduan had also unilaterally converted their other two children, Tevi Darsiny and Karan Dinish, in 2009.

He also took Prasana, who was then only 11 months old, with him. Indira has not seen her since.

The Federal Court in its landmark decision had ruled that conversions of minors required the consent of both parents.

The court also awarded Indira custody over all three of her children, compelling police to track down Riduan.

-Mkini