A 26-YEAR-OLD woman has failed in her attempt for a judicial review to renounce Islam.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning rejected the woman’s application to commence proceedings.

Justice Ahmad Kamal Shahid denied the application on grounds the civil courts have no powers to hear renunciation matters.

“(Only) the shariah courts have jurisdiction to hear matters on renunciation,” he said.

The court ordered the woman to pay the government costs of RM3,000.

Free Malaysia Today reported that the woman had filed an application for leave to commence judicial review proceedings on April 20. 

She named the Federal Territory’s muallaf registrar, its Islamic religious council and the government as respondents.

She wanted a declaration that she was no longer a Muslim.

Her court documents stated that she had converted in 2017 to marry a Malay-Muslim man, but the relationship had ended without marriage.

Lawyer Iqbal Harith Liang represented the woman, while federal counsel Sallehuddin Ali appeared for the government. – September 21, 2023.