Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill

Persecution of a Muslim bookstore manager

  • Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan & Ors v Berjaya Books Sdn. Bhd. & Ors [Federal Court Civil Application No.: 08(f)-27-0112015(W)]
  • Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan & Ors v Berjaya Books Sdn. Bhd. & Ors [2015] 3 MLJ 65
  • Berjaya Books Sdn. Bhd. & Ors v Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan & Ors [2014] 1 MLJ 138
  • Ketua Pendakwa Syarie v Nik Raina Binti Nik Abdul Aziz [Mahkamah Rayuan Syariah Di Kuala Lumpur Kes Rayuan Jenayah No.: 14000-111-0005-2015]
  • Ketua Pendakwa Syarie v Nik Raina Binti Nik Abdul Aziz [Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah Di Kuala Lumpur Kes Jenayah Bil.: 14600-111-0025-2012]

On 23 May 2012, the religious enforcement department of the Federal Territories, Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (JAWI) raided Borders bookstore and seized several books by a renowned writer, Irshad Manji, titled “Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta” and “Allah, Liberty and Love” whereas the publications were not banned whether by federal law or the state religious law. A ban on the publications was only gazetted 3 weeks later. Despite various representations made to JAWI, the Home Minister and the Religious Minister, JAWI proceeded to prosecute the Muslim bookstore manager, Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz. Rosli launched a judicial review application against JAWI, the Home Minister and the Religious Minister challenging not only the unconstitutionality of state religious law but also the illegal enforcement and prosecution actions.

Share this article

Other Pro Bono