ICC Note:
Representatives from several religious backgrounds speak out at an event marking the 50th anniversary for Malaysia’s Internal Security Act.
11/23/2010 Malaysia (UCANews) – Religious representatives speak out against Malaysia’s Internal Security Act
Representatives of Malaysia’s main religions have spoken against a law allowing indefinite detention without trial at an event marking the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Chrisanne Chin, youth moderator of the Council of Churches Malaysia, argues that although Christians support the government in its efforts to instill peace in the country, “the ISA has been abused.”
Chin represented Christians at a forum entitled How Do Religions View ISA? held on Nov. 21, one of several activities organized by a coalition of NGOs in Penang. Other speakers at the interreligious forum represented Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Taoism.
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Saari Sungib, an assemblyman and a founding member of an Islamic NGO, asserted that the ISA is a gross violation of human dignity.
Speaking from his own experience of being detained under ISA twice, he said he endured being stripped naked, spat and urinated at during detention.
“Islam forbids a person to be humiliated,” Saari insisted. “And Islam cannot accept a person to be punished without fair trial. Therefore, it is obvious that Islam opposes ISA.”
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