Siti Kasim to religious bigots: “You’re the ones who bring shame to Islam, not I who’s a proud liberal”

 

HUMAN rights activist Siti Kasim has hit out at the double standards practised by “people in skull caps and robe” who continue to paint a negative picture of liberal and pro-secular Muslims like herself as a threat to Islam.

Referring to popular independent preacher Ustaz Kazim Elias who has been actively “attacking secularism and liberal Islam”, the legal eagle said the former had taken a swipe at her for calling on radical Muslims to mind their own business instead of meddling in the lives and affairs of liberal Muslims.

“I’m a proud liberal and pro-secular but we shall accept whatever you guys believe in … we won’t condemn anyone but you guys as usual only want to force your version on others,” lamented Siti Kasim in her latest Facebook video.

The 51-year-old Perak-born Kazim had in a YouTube video posting entitled “Liberals Are Increasingly Active in Making Muslims Doubtful About Themselves” (originally, Liberal Semakin Aktif Membuat Orang Islam Ragu-Ragu), for example, slammed liberal Muslims for swaying and confusing Muslims about the original teaching of Islam.

Alluding to the observation of social activist Abdul Rani Kulop Abdullah – the quirky personality who is known for his tagline “kipidap” tagline – Siti Kasim, however, begged to differ.

She pointed to the truth that “sodomisers are mostly celebrity ustaz, those apprehended for rape are mostly religious preachers and so are those arrested for scams comprised mostly ustaz and influencers portraying religious image”.

“These are facts and not made-up stories; those investigated for enslaving children, too, are similarly ustaz portraying religious image yet there is no slogan of Islam being threatened,” fumed the Orang Asli advocate

“So the question to Kazim Elias and his tribe/gang members comprising Muslim convert preacher Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah and the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) lead activist Datuk Nadzim Johan (Toqqi) is who is actually attacking or embarrassing Islam?

“Are they liberalists or pro-secular people? The truth is that you guys are the ones who both embarrass and are attacking Islam … Therefore, please don’t try to pin the blame on people like us who only think of doing good and never ever claim to be Islamic or that we’re pious ulama (Islamic scholar).”

Stating that liberal-minded Muslims like herself only aspire “to just live in this world in the best possible manner”, Siti Kasim further appealed to religious fanatics “not to bring us down with you”.

“God is great and is showing that your type of people are the ones who are bringing Islam down with your conduct and actions … I want to remind Kazim Elias and his tribe members that we aren’t the threat (to Islam) but only want to do the best for humanity,” she contended.

“I believe the liberal or pro-secularists are actually doing their best to foster co-existence among people in this earth … so, just mind your business and don’t try to bring others down for we never try to bring you guys down in the first place.

“We never use religion but you do use religion to show the world that you’re Islamic when your actual conduct only brings shame to the religion.” – Focus Malaysia