How can a ‘religious upbringing’ come before a mother’s love?

 

From Clement Stanley

My heart goes out to Loh Siew Hong, the single mother who was told by the Perlis social welfare department that she had a mere 60 minutes to spend with her twin daughters and son. How anybody can do this to her is beyond me, especially since nobody knows what holds tomorrow.

That aside, lest the authorities forget, Loh was caught in what she claims was an abusive marriage. She sought shelter from an allegedly torturous home environment. She reached out for someone and a place where she could rebuild her life. She did that admirably.

She got a job. She filed for a divorce and the High Court granted her custody of her three children.

She had carried the twin girls and son for a good nine months, nurtured them and watched over them while being subjected to what she alleged was an abusive home environment.

From what we are told, all three children were converted to Islam without their mother’s knowledge or consent and were placed under the care of Islamic religious authorities in Perlis. Loh says the conversion of her children was done without her knowledge.

This is where the problem lies. Somebody decided that a “religious” upbringing was more important than the love a mother has for her children. Somebody decided that getting the children to embrace a new religion they were not born into was the “right” thing to do.

No religious authority or individual should play God under any circumstance.

What now for the likes of Loh Siew Hong? Who can she turn to other than the civil court? In the meantime, is she expected to carry on suffering in silence? Is that it?

Until you are in her shoes, you will never know what it is like to undergo the suffering and mental torture of having your children torn away from your loving arms and warm embrace.

But as long as you persevere, for as long as you carry your cross with dignity, you will know that love conquers all.

To Loh and everyone out there who is caught in a similar situation, I have only one thing to say: If you love your children as deeply as you do, no knife, no matter how sharp it may be, will ever cut you apart.

Stay strong because the love and understanding you have from your fellow Malaysians will shine like a beacon when all seems lost. - FMT

Clement Stanley is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.