FOLLOWING Putrajaya’s recent ban on books by Muslim intellectuals, an online petition was launched on the website change.org to collect signatures to fight the “crackdown”.

Titled “Stop Crackdowns on Intellectuals in Malaysia!” the petition started by the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy, has already collected 797 signatures. It is targeting 1,000 signatures before sending the petition to Putrajaya.

The petition, which was put up yesterday, carries a joint statement drafted by a group of civil society organisations in Malaysia with the Teoh Beng Hock Trust for Democracy as the coordinating unit.

The statement demands that Putrajaya and all relevant state parties stop “all harassments, investigations and charges on Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, the director of the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), and their past and future intellectual guests.”

“We, the undersigned individuals, register our gravest concern and strongest objection to a series of crackdowns on intellectuals from September 25 to October 3.

“These include Turkish author Mustafa Akyol’s arrest; the harassment and persecution of Akyol’s host, Dr Farouk; and the banning of 22 books, including discursive writings by Akyol, Farouk, scholar Faisal Tehrani (Mohd Faizal Musa) and cleric Ustaz Wan Ji Wan Hussin.

“Actions by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jawi) against Akyol for allegedly committing such an offence prior to an aborted forum in Nottingham University Malaysia, and against Farouk for allegedly abetting Akyol, set a dangerous precedent with far reaching implications for academic freedom and, certainly, freedom of speech in Malaysia,” the statement read.

The Home Minister recently ordered a ban on IRF’s books including Wacana Pemikiran Reformis (Jilid I) (A Discourse on Reformist Thought, Volume I) and Wacana Pemikiran Reformis (Jilid II).

Farouk was also recently questioned by religious authorities over a forum that was to feature Akyol last month.

Akyol was detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport while on his way out of Malaysia, sent to the religious authorities for questioning before he was released 18 hours later.

His book “Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty” had also been banned.

The government said the books were deemed “likely to be prejudicial to public order and interest” and “likely to alarm public opinion”.

The petition also demanded that the ban on the books and others that promote intellectual discourses and moderation be lifted.

“Are intellectual discourses in universities involving Islam now being regulated by state Islamic Religious Departments? Do universities need to get clearance from the religious departments before inviting any speakers on any topics related to Islam?

“As Islam is being applied in almost every sector in Malaysian society, are the religious bureaucrats now the de-facto thought police for the nation to decide what thoughts we can and cannot have?”

The petitioners also viewed the recent book bans under Section 7 of the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA) as a “further attempt at mind control”, and called for the law to be abolished and replaced with a law complaint with human rights.

“How did Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi find the books by IRF and Akyol, and Faisal Tehrani’s ‘Aku _, maka aku ada’ (I _, therefore I am), as well as Wan Ji’s ‘Ulamak yang bukan pewaris Nabi’ (Those clergy who are not the Prophet’s successors) to be harmful to public order, morality, security, public opinion, public interest or national interest?

“Are ideas like moderation, reform and liberty now enemies of the state?”

The petition is also demanding that Putrajaya honours Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution that provides for freedom of expression, and ends all thought policing on academics and academia.

“The crackdown on intellectuals during these two weeks is not an isolated development but a serious and dangerous escalation in a long and on-going process of thought policing to close the minds of Malaysians, especially Muslims.

“If we do not speak up for Akyol, Farouk, Faisal, Wan Ji and others whom the state want silenced, soon there will be no one left to speak up for us when we are silenced.”

Writers have also called the Malaysian government ‘hypocrites’ for criticising other countries which do not respect UN resolutions as it is doing the same.

They pointed out the government’s disrespect towards the views of UN Special Rapporteur Karima Bennoune in the field of cultural rights, who highlighted the government’s book bans and called for them to end.

Many who have signed the petition left comments of similar views.

“You’ve put me through school, then university and taught me how to think. Let me think, then, and maybe we can grow as a nation,” Feisal Kamil from Kuala Lumpur said.

Amir Afendras from Portugal called the book bans “another embarrassing step backwards by the Malaysian government.”

“Let the minds of Muslims in Malaysia be open to dialogue, knowledge, opinions instead of trying to constantly close and control them,” he commented.

Teoh Lye Hin wrote: “I firmly believe that our thoughts should not be caged up. We should be given our right for self expressions and choices as long as our acts do not infringe on the rights of others and be a nuisance to society in general.”

Well known social activist Azrul Mohd Khatib spoke up for Akyol, describing the Turkish writer’s views as “intelligent, articulate, progressive, modernist and bold”.

“They force Muslims to think, reflect and analyse. All dangerous and reason enough for him to be hated and vilified by the conservative and close-minded religious community in this country.

“They don’t want thinking Muslims, only obedient, compliant and unquestioning ones. We are not sheep. Sign the petition!” he wrote. – October 6, 2017.