A lawyer has accused Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh of misleading the Parliament when he defended an anti-Christianisation seminar held two years ago at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), saying it was focusing on the threat of Islamic State (IS) and Syiah teachings.

Annou Xavier said he accompanied two people who lodged police reports over the matter in 2014.

He added that he has the evidence and was perplexed with the minister's response.

“We have evidence on this as the brochure on the seminar clearly states that it is on the use of ' Kalimah Allah dan Kristologi '. The seminar was clearly anti-Christian.

“As an Umno leader, the minister should emphasise that educational institutions should not insult or ridicule other religions. Institutions or religious groups which want to organise seminars should be on their own religion and to strengthen the faith of its followers, not criticise or cause hatred to other religions,” Xavier told Malaysiakini .

The lawyer gave a copy of the brochure and also details of the programme organised by UiTM, and claimed that there were no mention of IS or Syiah.

As such, Xavier ( photo ) asked, how could Idris state in the Parliament that the seminar was organised to curb IS and Syiah.

He added that when his clients, literary activist Uthaya Sankar SB and lecturer Perzeus James, lodged police reports , they were informed by the investigating officer that the case was still open.

“When the incident happened again three times, the recent one at Malacca UiTM , we wrote to the police to open the file and investigate the matter. We urge Idris to be truthful to the people, especially to the Christian community,” he said.

Earlier today, when responding to a question from Darrel Leiking (PKR-Penampang), Idris defended the two forums against Christianisation held by UiTM.

"The objective of the seminars was to discuss academically the pros and cons on the matter in line with the intellectual culture at the higher education level," he had said in a written parliamentary reply.

"The seminars basically explained the issues of IS, Syiah and the crusade, from the historical point of view, as well as the development of Islam, which (they could) share with the UiTM students."