Johor ruler: Respect other faiths, houses of worship

How would Muslims feel if mosques were desecrated, asks Sultan Ibrahim in calling for Muslims to seek a life of peace and harmony.

PETALING JAYA: The Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has reminded Muslims in his state to be tolerant and respectful of other races and their houses of worship.

“As Muslims, ask ourselves, how would we feel if our mosques were desecrated?” said the Johor ruler when commenting on the recent acquittal of a mentally unsound medical graduate who had desecrated a Hindu shrine in Ipoh.

Quoting the Quran, Sultan Ibrahim said Islam called on Muslims to remember that all of mankind are God’s creation and that God in his wisdom had created people of different races and religions.

“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted (Surah Al-Hujurat, verse 13).”

“We must always accept those of other religions. Let us constantly remind ourselves to seek a life of peace and harmony in the spirit of ‘Muafakat Johor’,” he said.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Fathi Munzir Nadzri, 29, was acquitted of charges of damaging statues of Hindu deities at the Sree Muneeswaran Amman Kovil Temple in April last year.

Sessions Court Judge Ikmal Hishan Mohd Tajuddin, in his judgment, said it was clearly proven that Fathi committed the offence, but a psychiatrist confirmed that he was suffering from “Bipolar Affective Disorder with Psychotic Features Manic Phase”.

The court also acquitted and discharged Fathi on the charge of possessing a machete on the same date and place.