Shiite Muslims forced to remove banner, fined RM250

The Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) has again taken action against a group of Shiite Muslims as they were celebrating the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet’s daughter.

This time the group was forced to remove a banner for the event, which Jais claimed was promoting their beliefs. The group was also slapped with a RM250 compound by the Selayang City Council (MPS).

The fine was for the "offence of setting up a tent in a public place".

Jais assistant director of investigations Shahrom Maarof (left in photo), who led the joint operation, allowed the ceremony to continue after the organisers had complied with his instructions.

“The ceremony may continue, just that the banner needs to be removed because we don’t want others to see this as promoting Shia beliefs.

“Don’t put any sign that carries the meaning (anniversary celebration of) the birth of Fatimah Az-Zahrah. These things would rouse questions on what the ceremony is about,” he was heard saying during a discussion with an organising committee member, Mohd Nassir Sahar (right in photo).

The discussion observed by Malaysiakini was also attended by four MPS enforcement officers.

Met by reporters later, Mohd Nassir said he welcomed the enforcers to the event.

Regardless, he said, he will continue to clear the sect's name despite several rounds of action taken against them over allegations that they were heretics.

“The arrests in the past had given Shiites a bad name. But now, we want to clear it. We have sent letters to Jais and the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) to review the enactments and fatwas that say Shiite is a cult.

“We will constantly follow up and compile documents. We have also sent letters to the UN and the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) to convince the government that we are not heretics,” he added.

Also met is the chairperson of the Shitte group Hauzah Ar Ridha, Mohd Kamilzuhairi Abd Aziz, who described Jais’ and MPS’ presence as “cordial”.

Mohd Kamilzuhairi was among four individuals arrested by Jais in May last year over accusations that he was proselytising the Shiite faith at a lunch reception in Taman Sri Gombak, and in December 2010 for his involvement in the sect.

When contacted, he said the former case has since been “silenced” while the latter case is still in court.

Selangor has a fatwa that says Shiite teachings deviate from Sunni beliefs, and its enforcement is done through the Selangor Syariah Crimes Enactment 1995.