THE Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) has summoned prominent Turkish journalist Mustafa Akyol for speaking without credentials from the department, Free Malaysia Today reports today.

Local Muslim think tank Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) director Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, who hosted Akyol’s visit to Malaysia, has also been called in for questioning.

The report said the US-based journalist had been featured in several events organised by IRF since last week, including on his latest book, “The Islamic Jesus: How the King of the Jews Became a Prophet of the Muslims”.

He is due to present a lecture today at Nottingham University’s Malaysia campus on “The Islamic Jesus: The Commonalities Between Judaism, Christians and Islam”.

Farouk told The Malaysian Insight in a text message today that the talk today would go on.

FMT said Jawi had insisted that the organisers of today’s public lecture get approval from the department. 

According to a summons sighted by the news portal, Akyol will be questioned under Section 11 of the Shariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act, for the offence of teaching without credentials from the religious authorities. Farouk is being questioned for allegedly abetting Akyol, an offence under Section 43 of the same law. 

It was reported that Akyol criticised governments who used draconian laws to remain in power, in a forum last night on democracy.

He had raised concerns on moral policing, saying it was not part of shariah, which only sought to fight crimes and not personal sins. 

“I believe, as a Muslim, that sins should not be matters of the state. You can and should advise Muslims who commit sins but you should not punish them,” he was quoted as saying. – September 25, 2017.