High Court Finally Allows Sarawakian Muslim Man To Embrace Christianity After 33 Years
Roneey anak Rebit was converted to Islam when he was 8.
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 25 Mar 2016, 08:02 PM
In a turn of events, the Malaysian High Court made a landmark ruling when it finally granted Sarawakian Azmi Mohamad Azam a declaration that he is legally a Christian
The Bidayuh who was converted to Islam as a child, was granted the declaration by the Kuching High Court.
In her decision on a judicial review brought by Azmi Mohamad Azam @ Roneey, judge Datuk Yew Jen Kie said this was in accordance with the applicant’s constitutional right to freedom of religion as he was now an adult.
She also ordered the National Registration Department (NRD) to change the man’s name to Roneey Rebit and his religion from Islam to Christianity in his identity card.
41-year-old Roneey was just eight when his then Christian parents decided to convert to Islam. The decision's legality naturally made Roneey, who was a minor, to follow his parents' choice of religion until adulthood.
The 40-year-old’s parents were Christians by religion. Azmi’s father was a soldier and both his parents were attracted to Islam when his father was on duty in Kuala Lumpur.
The applicant’s parents converted to Islam in Sarawak.
malaysiakini.com
Wanting to embrace Christianity again, Roneey sought to remove the Islamic classification on his MyKad and for his name to be changed from Azmi Mohamad Azam to Roneey anak Rebit
In his application, Roneey had sought a declaration that he is a Christian, a letter of release from Islam from the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and Sarawak Islamic Council, and orders compelling the NRD to change his name and religion in his identity card and its records.
The state religious authorities did not object to issuing the letter but the NRD had insisted on a letter of release and order from the Syariah Court.
Explaining the landmark decision, Judge Datuk Yew Jen Kie said that it is in line with Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which states citizens have the right to profess and practice their respective religions
She said the applicant converted when he was a minor and following his parents when he was just 10 years old, he had no choice and not his volition and hence, the applicant cannot be considered as a person professing the religion of Islam.
But now he has the right as he has reached the age of maturity, and furthermore, he was baptised a Christian in 1999, the judge said.
theborneopost.com
"He is not challenging the validity of his conversion as a minor. But having become a major, he is free to exercise his right of freedom to religion and he chose Christianity," added Judge Yew, as reported by English daily, The Star.
"The (NRD) had not acted fairly towards the applicant by insisting on a letter of release and order from the Syariah Court," she added.
Pleased with the historic ruling, the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) expressed their gratitude towards the Kuching High Court for the "fair and just" decision
Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) leaders and members that came for the delivery of the judgement
Image via The Borneo Post"We call upon the Federal Government to honour and give effect to the guarantee of religious freedom as provided in the Malaysia Agreement and uphold the constitutional rights and fundamental liberties accorded by the Federal Constitution to all citizens of Malaysia," it said in a statement.
thestar.com.my