Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali has called for the Selangor mufti and Mais to hold a face-to-face meeting with the NGO Sisters in Islam over the recent judicial review SIS filed.

SIS filed the judicial review against the Selangor fatwa committee, Selangor Religious Affairs Council (Mais) and the Selangor government over a fatwa labelling the NGO as "religious deviants".

The fatwa gazetted in Selangor on July 24 declares those subscribing to "liberalism and pluralism" as "deviating" from Islam, and it cites the NGO as an example.

Azmin ( left ) said as he is not part of the Fatwa Committee of Selangor and fatwa are not within the jurisdiction of the MB’s office, it is best SIS and the authorities meet to avert further confusion and misunderstanding.

“After reading the statement by SIS in the media, I immediately communicated with the mufti of Selangor and raised the matter with him.

“This matter was then discussed at the meeting of Dewan Di-Raja Selangor, which coincidentally was in session on Nov 3, 2014, in order to get a clarification from the mufti of Selangor and Mais.

“From the clarification given by the mufti and Mais at the meeting, I proposed, with the consent of Tuanku Sultan (of Selangor), that the mufti and Mais hold a meeting with SIS in order to avert confusion and misunderstanding.

“I earnestly hope that such a consultation and meeting, conducted without rancour or ill-will, would help bring about an atmosphere of harmony as enjoined by Islam,” Azmin added in a statement released today.

The fatwa (edict) that was issued against SIS states that it is an example of being “deviant” for subscribing to “liberalism and pluralism”.

It further states other similar organisations have likewise strayed from Islam.

The fatwa also declares that any material concerning religious liberalism and pluralism must be banned and confiscated.

SIS filed the judicial review against the fatwa last Friday. 

The co-appellants in the application are its co-founder and the former SIS executive director Zainah Anwar and former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim.