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Catholic Lawyers' Society Meets Deputy Minister in Putrajaya Over Desecration
Of Host.
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Home Minister Calls For Calm.
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The Sun
Centre For Independant Journalism Say Al Islam Breached Code Of Ethics.
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from CIJ Malaysia
Theologian Slams Al Islam Publication.
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MySinChew Daily
To Read About The Catholic Lawyers' Society's Memorandum To The Minister Of
Home Affairs & Internal Security,
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here
Attoney General Undecided Whether To Charge Al Islam Or Not. For more, read
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Malaysian Bar
A Roman Catholic Seminarian's Perspective On Al Islam Incident.
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Press Statement by the CATHOLIC LAWYERS' SOCIETY, KL on
the desecration of the blessed host by 2 Muslim journalists.
Committee Members Hand Over Memorandum To Deputy Minister of
Home Affairs, Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusof
Read the Press Statement
here.
Read the Memorandum here.
SACRILEGIOUS ACT BY JOURNALIST
The Catholic Lawyers’ Society Kuala Lumpur expresses dismay
over the recent article appearing in the May issue of Al-Islam entitled
‘Tinjauan Al Islam Dalam Gereja – Mencari Kesahihan remaja Melayu Murtad’.
The article written by Muhd. Ridhwan Abdul Jalil @ Erwanz,
displays utmost disrespect to the Catholic community when he admitted consuming
Holy Communion and photographing the sacred specie. Although a police report has
been lodged, no charges have yet been brought against the writer, the editor or
even the publishers of the magazine.
There has been todate no sign of remorse or apology from the
writer, editor and/or publishers of the Al Islam for the intrusion, violation
and defilement of the most sacred element of the Catholic faith
The writer and editor of the magazine have shown utter
contempt to the Catholic community and the Catholic Lawyers’ Society call on the
authorities to expedite their investigations and haul up those responsible to
Court as a deterrent so that no other religious institution will be subjected to
such similar sacrilegious acts by other individuals.
Section 295 of the Penal Code states that it is an offence,
“to defile damage or destroy any object held sacred by any
class of persons, with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any
class of persons, or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to
consider such destruction, damage, or defilement as an insult to their
religion…”
Section 298A of the Penal Code states that it is an offence,
“to cause or attempt to cause, or do any act that is likely
to cause disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will; or
prejudice or attempts to prejudice, or is likely to prejudice, the maintenance
of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion, between persons or groups of
persons professing the same or different religions….”
The actions of the journalist and the magazine clearly
contravene inter alia sections 295 and 298A of the Penal Code.
We also call upon the Ministry of Home Affairs & Internal
Security to investigate the magazine and its publishers to ascertain if there
has been any violation of the printing and publishing licences and permits
issued by the Ministry and if there has been violation of the Printing Presses &
Publications Act 1984.
The society expresses concern that in 2007 no criminal
charges were levied against those responsible for circulating false information
of mass conversions of Muslims in a church at Selibin, Ipoh that saw an unruly
crowd disrupting the celebration of first Holy Communion for 90 Catholic
children. Now, matters have gone one step further with the violation of the Holy
Communion itself. We are concerned that this pattern of interference and
violation of that which is sacred to persons of a particular faith and then
publishing the same for all to know transgresses any attempt made so far towards
harmony and mutual respect.
It is in this light that we call on the Police and the Home
Minister to take immediate action against those responsible.
Dated 21st. July 2009
Mabel Sabastian
President Catholic Lawyers’ Society KL
Tel No: 016-6381276
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