Loh’s case shouldn’t become a ‘communal contest’, says NGO group

 

Loh Siew Hong getting custody of her children does not close the door to them becoming Muslims, says a coalition of NGOs.

PETALING JAYA: A coalition of more than 20 NGOs has urged all those who have commented on the unilateral conversion of Loh Siew Hong’s three children to refrain from viewing the matter as “a communal contest to determine one’s faith”.

In a statement today, Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) warned that doing so could affect relations among the various races in the country and undermine Islam’s image.

“Loh’s children returning to their mother does not close the door to them becoming Muslims when they are adults,” said GBM chairman Badlishah Sham Baharin.

“GBM is confident that Malaysians can accept a just and reasonable solution to the plight of Loh and her children.

“Muslim Malaysians should not buy into fearmongering that non-Muslims are out to reduce the number of Muslims.”

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today allowed a habeas corpus application by Loh against the social welfare department and a preacher who looked after the children for three years.

Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin previously said the state religious authorities had registered Loh’s three children as Muslims without her consent.

This is in contravention of a 2018 Federal Court ruling that the conversion of any child under 18 to another religion needs the consent of both parents.

Loh is set to challenge the unilateral conversion of her three children through a judicial review, with Asri stating he would look at other measures under the law to protect the children if they wanted to remain as Muslims. - FMT