THERE is not much Shia Muslims can do in Malaysia, following the pressures imposed on them by the authorities.

The Shia followers, however, have continued to carry out their religious practices in private space, despite the risk of persecution.

“The majority of the Shia community is afraid. They are not allowed to have their own mosques so they continue informal religious practices in homes or shop lots,” a Shia follower told The Malaysian Insight.

The community is often targeted during the celebration of the Day of Ashura, or the 10th day of the Islamic month, Muharam, as the Shia remembers it differently than the Sunnah Wal Jamaah followers, who are the majority in Malaysia.

In an incident in Johor on Monday, three Shia followers have accused the police of acting aggressively at a raid during a religious ceremony.

In the three police reports sighted by The Malaysian Insight, three men alleged that plainclothes police acted brutally towards the group, including pointing their weapons at the congregation.

For the majority of Muslims in Malaysia, the Day of Ashura is celebrated with a fast, commemorating the event of Moses being rescued from the pharaoh.

In contrast, Shia followers celebrated it in mourning, commemorating the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussin, who was martyred in the battle of Karbala.

“For the Shia people, the Assyrian Day is not a celebration, but a day of mourning.

“In many Shia communities, there are mourning events rather than ordinary talks, where people will tell the story and history of that day.

“In Malaysia, the majority of Ayatollah Khomeni scholars do not allow their bodies to bleed.

“In Malaysia we do not do that, many just recount the story, through talks,” the believer who requested anonymity said.

It is estimated that there are about 50,000 to 200,000 Shia followers in Malaysia, said Shia Malaysia chairman Kamil Zuhairi Abdul Azizi.

“Our religion is just like any other. We pray, read the Quran, fast, practise our beliefs. We value the descendants of Prophet Muhammad,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He said Shia followers in Malaysia generally do not practise their faith openly.

“The Shia practitioners here are being defamed, criticised, and leading some followers to show their religion openly.”

However, Kamil Zuhairi said they would never stop long despite the continuous pressure from religious authorities.

“We continue as it is a religious claim. The people who oppose it are against our religious claims. While the religion is Islam, Shia is just another school.”

He was among 23 individuals arrested last week in a raid on a Shia religious centre in Gombak.

“This is about human rights, religious rights. We are doing something that does not interfere with others.

“It’s different if we go out to preach openly or if we practise the more extreme actions. Besides, mainstream Shia scholars have denounced those actions.”

Last week, a Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) Friday sermon warned Muslims about the spread of Shia in the country.

It said Shia followers were infiltrating the public through a network of public and private universities, public and private companies, Quranic guidance classes, children’s books, novels, comics and other methods.

Selangor had denounced the Shia as a deviation in 1989 and 2013.

“Islam is the official religion of the federation. It does not specify Islam Sunnah Wal Jamaah or Shia Islam.

“We do not violate others, whether it is Sunnah Wal Jamaah or Shia,” said Kamil Zuhairi.

“Berdialog dengan al-Quran” author Syazreen Abdullah said the enforcement action against religious minority groups in Malaysia has made the country’s shariah laws to regress.

He said the Pakatan Harapan administration had promised opportunities to the group but in reality, it was not as spontaneous as the Barisan Nasional government.

“Freedom of religion continues to be threatened and suppressed. The majority of the asatizah, Ikram, Amanah, and the muftis cannot be relied on.

“The government also encourages the deepening ignorance of the Malays and indoctrinating them with their own religious dogma. The future of religion continues to be dark in the new government,” he said.

He said the government and religious authorities also exercise their power without genuine religious education.

“The dictatorship of the ruling masses continue to oppressive, failing to give birth to a critical religious community.”

Ahmad Farouk Musa of the Islamic Renaissance Front said Jais’ actions were like an outlaw that would sabotage the government’s efforts to establish a cultural relationship with a country like Iran, that has a majority Shia population.

To make matters worse, an Iranian cultural diplomat was caught in a raid.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to make an official visit to Iran next month.

“When the new government tries to establish better economic and cultural relations with other Muslim countries such as Iran, through Dr Mahathir’s upcoming visit, the actions of the religious authorities here is sabotaging and breaking down plans to create a better world for us.

“Jais and the religious bureaucrats feel that God has given them this country and others have to follow their version of Islam to live here.”

He said it should be stopped immediately, adding that the mafia-style actions of Jais officials against the religious minorities did not reflect Malaysia’s image of a moderate state.

“In the eyes of the world, this country is in line with autocratic countries that do not respect diversity.” – September 12, 2019.