No force used during raid on Shia group, says Johor Islamic department

JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) has denied allegations it acted harshly during a raid on a group of Shia followers at a house at Taman Bukit Kempas here last Monday.

© Provided by FMT MEDIA SDN BHD Fifty-four individuals comprising men, women and children were arrested during the raid on a group of Shia followers in Johor Bahru on Monday.

Religious Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee chairman Tosrin Jarvanthi said the raid, conducted under Ops Hauzah, was carried out according to standard operating procedure (SOP).

He said 30 enforcement officers assisted by 15 policemen took part in the raid from 11pm to 1.30am.

“There was no aggression involved as it was done according to SOP, although there have been police reports lodged by those involved that they experienced such treatment. However, we strongly deny the allegations of harsh treatment during the raid,” he told reporters here today.

Tosrin said 54 individuals comprising men, women and children between the ages of two and 70 were arrested during the operation at the three-storey premises.

However, only eight of them – four Malaysians in their 40s including the leader of the group, two Singaporeans, a Yemeni and an Indonesian – were detained for further investigation.

“Investigations found that the owner of the house was a non-Muslim and that the premises were rented.

“During the raid, they said they were reading the Yasin and performing tahlil. When asked if they were having a sermon session, they denied it,” he said.

He said the group was believed to have been led by an individual who had previously been investigated between 2013 and 2016.

Tosrin said the state government, through the Johor Islamic Religious Department, would continue to uphold the ban on Shia practices and teachings as decided by the Johor State Fatwa Committee in 2014. - nst