BFM presenter and ZI Publications owner Ezra Zaid says he is ready to stand trial for the sale, distribution and possession of a book about moral courage and practising Islam without fear.

Ezra, who is the son of DAP leader Zaid Ibrahim, will be tried by the Selangor Shariah Court on February 22 for selling 180 translated copies of Canadian author Irshad Manji’s book Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta (Allah, Liberty and Love).

The books were seized during a raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) on ZI Publications’ office on May 29, 2012.

“Five years for a case is a long time, but I’m ready for another five,” Ezra told The Malaysian Insight.

“As long as we get this right. We have to get it right because there’s a lot on the line – our fundamental liberties, our constitution and hundreds upon hundreds of years of Islamic legal tradition.”

Ezra filed judicial reviews in July 2012 to challenge the legality of the seizure and the validity of Section 16 of the Selangor’s Administration of Islamic Law Enactment 1989.

Separately, he also filed a reference to the Federal Court questioning the competency of Selangor legislative assembly to enact Section 16 in respect of Article 74(2) of federal constitution.

On March 7, 2013, Ezra was charged under Section 16 for publishing and distributing the book and possession of 180 translated copies.

Conviction under any of the charges would result in a maximum RM3,000 fine, a two-year jail term or both.

Justice Syukran Yusoff said yesterday in the Shariah Subordinate Court in Petaling Jaya that the case, which began in 2012, had already taken too long and since there were no longer any legality issues with Section 16 of the Shariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995, the trial should proceed.

“The case has dragged on because our honourable judges understand what is at stake. And we have seen plenty of examples of bravery and courage from the bench, so I have reason to be optimistic,” Ezra said.

Ezra said as a publisher, he befriended and took strength from the late prolific author Kassim Ahmad, who had his own brushes with religious authorities.

“Kassim Ahmad believed in the process. He fought these religious bureaucrats right till the end and won,” said Ezra,

“We can’t forget him and all that he did,” Ezra said.

On March 26, 2014, Kassim was arrested in his home in Kulim, Kedah, questioned and then taken to be charged at the Shariah High Court in Putrajaya with insulting Islam and defying religious authorities at a seminar officiated by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

On December 21, 2015, a Court of Appeal panel unanimously found Jawi’s actions on Kassim to be illegal. Shariah prosecutors withdrew their charges in August 7 this year.

Kassim’s health deteriorated during the legal battle. He died aged 84 on October 10 from complications following a lung infection and a blocked heart valve. – November 24, 2017.