Mum demands authorities prove she consented to children’s conversion

 

Religious authorities in Perak, Kedah and Penang have been asked to prove that single mother Loh Siew Hong had given her consent to the conversion of her three children to Islam.

In a letter of demand addressed to converts’ registrars in the three states, it was detailed that if the children had been registered in any of the three states, the relevant registrars’ have a period of seven days to:

1. Prove that Loh had agreed to register her children as Muslims, or

2. Provide written confirmation that their conversion to Islam had been cancelled - with their names removed from the register of converts

3. Failing this, Loh (above) and her lawyers are expected to file an application for a judicial review without further notice.

The demand letter cited the precedent of M Indira Gandhi's case - in which the Federal Court concluded that the consent of both parents is required before a certificate of conversion to Islam can be issued towards their children.

Loh is still not able to be with her children despite finally tracking down their location after they were taken away by her estranged husband and unilaterally converted to Islam three years ago.

The three children, a pair of 14-year-old twins and a 10-year-old, were briefly reunited with their mother at the Kangar district police headquarters in Perlis on Monday (Feb 14).

However, the children were then placed under the care of the Perlis Welfare Department, pending the outcome of a habeas corpus application filed in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

Loh and her husband Nagahswaran Muniandy separated in March 2019 and subsequently, her children were taken from her.

It was reported that Nagahswaran had abducted the three children in Loh’s absence to be converted to Islam and placed them in an Islamic centre in Perlis. He is now in prison for a drug-related offence.

Perlis mufti meets Loh's children

It was discovered by Loh that Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin had questioned her children about their conversion to Islam.

Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

According to Free Malaysia Today, this saddened Loh as the mufti - who is not blood-related to the children - was able to spend time with them while she was still prevented from doing so due to Covid-19 restrictions.

"They are still children. So, how can you ask what their religion is? You should consult me,” Loh told FMT.

“How can the mufti meet them when I can't? It's really cruel,” she added.

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This comes after the Perlis mufti took to Instagram with a video of him and two of Loh's children, asking if they wanted to remain Muslims and whether they were coerced to embrace Islam.

After being told they wanted to remain Muslims, Asri said he would try to ensure that they stay as Muslims. - Mkini