Civil court quashes Catholic woman's conversion to Islam

 

A Sabahan Catholic succeeded in her legal bid to nullify her conversion to Islam two years ago, following a breakdown in her relationship with a Muslim man who initially promised to marry her.

The 21-year-old’s lawyer Shamsher Singh Thind confirmed that the Penang High Court allowed her judicial review application.

According to court documents, the woman from the Murut ethnic group pointed out that her conversion to Islam - at age 17 on June 11, 2020, at the office of Pertubuhan Penyebaran Islam Antarabangsa Pulau Pinang - was invalid as it was done without the consent of her Catholic parents.

The woman, who was baptised by her parents at a Catholic church in Keningau, Sabah, on Aug 28, 2005, said her agreement to be registered as a muallaf (new convert to Islam) was only given because her then-boyfriend informed her that the procedure was necessary so that they could have a legitimate marriage.

She noted that when she agreed to be registered as a muallaf, she was yet to turn 18, which only happened later on Nov 22, 2020.

“I confirm that around February 2022, I broke off relations with my boyfriend and did not marry him.

“I confirm that following the breaking off of relations with my boyfriend, and until April 25, 2023, I tried several times to cancel my registration as a muallaf but was informed by several syarie lawyers that this was impossible.

“This was because Section 113(1) of the Administration of the Religion of Islam (State of Penang) Enactment 2004 acknowledges me as a Muslim forever,” said the woman who was born in Keningau on Nov 22, 2002.

However, judge Quay Chew Soon in today’s ruling allowed the woman’s bid to quash her Islamic conversion, pointing out that Section 117(b) of the same state enactment requires consent from both her parents before she could be converted as she was a minor at the time.

The court not only ruled that the woman, who works as a restaurant waitress in Penang, is still a Catholic but that her registration as a muallaf was invalid from the onset.

Quay also ordered the two respondents - Penang’s Islamic Council and the state muallaf registrar - to remove her name and details from the registry. - Mkini