I refer to the Malaysiakini report Ex-Perlis mufti freed on bail: Jais feels the heat?The arrest of former Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin raises disturbing questions.
One, isn't it unjust to arrest a person and take him to court while investigations on him are still on-going?
Two, doesn't this smack of arbitrariness and high-handedness, and doesn't it erode established judicial norms and the rule of law?
Three, wasn't the deployment of an extraordinarily large number of Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (Jais) staff and police personnel a show of force which was tantamount to abuse of power?
Four, since Asri has been giving talks in Selangor and elsewhere for a while now, what was the reason for arresting him only at this point in time?
Five, was the arrest a well-orchestrated move by certain religious authorities, backed by some Muslim NGOs, to dissuade the federal government from going ahead with the appointment of Asri as the new head of a potentially influential Islamic 'dakwah' foundation, Yadim?
Six, if this was the motive, doesn't it show that there are religious institutions and groups in the country that are intolerant of views on Islam which are different from theirs, however humane and rational some of these views may be, and however well-grounded they are in the Qur'an?
Seven, isn't such intolerance a betrayal of the respect for differences of opinion, and for dissent, embodied in Quranic thought and in the practice of the Prophet?
It is important to ask these questions because Asri's crude and coarse treatment echoes the authoritarianism of certain groups in other parts of the Muslim world that has led to tension and conflict.
This is why any attempt by any group to monopolise religion and marginalise alternative voices should be checked immediately.
It was one of the causes of the closing of the Muslim mind in past centuries and was partly responsible for the decline of Islamic civilisation.
4 comments:
One. Evidence already collected that night. Further investigations shouldn't stop there.
Two. Arresting was JAIS's job.
Three. 50 sympathisers already there. How?
Four. He knew that he was uncertified to conduct ceramah in Selangor. He had already been stopped from conducting regular ceramah at a surau. Knowingly going agaist JAIS?
Five. YADIM's case seems to have closed beforehand.
Six. Seven. MAZA had it coming. If MAZA was warned repeatedly, but still does it, what should JAIS do?
On the other hand, JAIS must explain, educate, spread the knowledge so people can learn, think.
No, it wont be a pretty sight when you have to put another person in a bad light.
This is another political ploy by the govt/UMNO. UMNO only recognises one brand of Islam, which is theirs. To them, all other practices of Islam are considered as illegal.
UMNO want to enslave the minds of Malaysian muslims and all muslims here must follow the brand of Islam dictated by UMNO & their govt cronies (JAIS, JAKIM, whatever). This is politically motivated, as once the minds of the rakyat are free, they will oppose the corrupted politicians.
This is a classic case of using dictatorship to stay in power. Poor Malaysians!
Big egos and small minds!! The relevant authorities should do some soul searching.
Things are not what they appear to be. While I support and understand where the blogger is coming from, the issue here is not simply lack of qualification. Neither is Maza is unacceptable to some people for some simple doctrinal / ritual disagreement, nor because he has the reputation of being rational and liberal. Oh no.
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