THE Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has condemned the arrest of Shia Muslims in Gombak recently, some of whom are children.

It said Malaysia could not claim to be a truly diverse nation if the rights of religious minorities were not protected.

“Unless Malaysian authorities, non-governmental organisations and civil society respect and tolerate the religious practices of all persons, we cannot truly profess to be a diverse and multicultural nation.

“The right to freely practise any religion is provided by Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.

“Brotherhood and compassion (should) be the bedrock upon which our society is founded, rather than the reactionary instinct to hate and mistreat others for their differences. 

“The right to freely practice any religion should be enjoyed by all people, without fear of reprisal,” the commission said in a statement.

Suhakam was commenting on a raid on a Shia group’s headquarters in Gombak by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) on September 6. Shia Malaysia chairman Kamil Zuhairi Abdul Azizi was among the 22 people arrested.

Last night, Free Malaysia Today reported that two more raids were conducted on private functions in Johor and Selangor, where Shia Muslims had been observing Azura, the death anniversary of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad who is a central figure in Shia Islam.

The private event in Johor was in Kempas, while the one in Selangor was in Bandar Sunway, and included Pakistani Muslims.

The September 6 raid was defended by Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, who said the state government was following a ban on Shia teachings by the Selangor Fatwa Committee in 2013.

Suhakam reminded all parties that former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2005 had endorsed the Amman Message, which recognises the various existing Islamic practices and which was signed by some 200 Islamic scholars, heads of state, academics and political leaders worldwide. – September 10, 2019.