Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz has been accused of being a "rude agent of anti-Islamic groups" at the PAS muktamar in Kedah yesterday.

Nazri was also lambasted as a minister who "lacked Islamic principles" for describing as 'stupid' the disruption by a group of about 200 protesters against an Article 11-organised forum to discuss religious freedom as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

Tabling a motion on the second day of the party's 52nd muktamar (annual convention) in Alor Star, Youth wing delegate Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad ticked off the government for allowing "groups that strive to apostatise Muslims of this country" to organise and conduct their activities openly.

He described efforts to establish the Interfaith Commission (IFC) - which has since been abandoned after stringent opposition from some Muslim groups - as "seeking to challenge and undermine Islam in the country".

Wan Azhar, who labelled the Article 11 coalition as "enemies of Islam", said Nazri had "gone too far" by backing such groups.

The Youth delegate's spirited exhortation was greeted with resounding calls of "takbir" and "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) by the 1,000-plus delegates.

Article 11 nothing to do with IFC

On May 14, a jointly-held forum in Penang organised by Article 11 and human rights group Aliran to discuss freedom of religion was stopped by police after a 200-strong mob protested at the venue.

Article 11, which is a coalition of 13 NGOs, has since made a slew of police reports against the mob.

Suaram, a member of Article 11, said that the forum had 'nothing to do' with the Inter-Faith Commission which the demonstrators seemed to have found so offensive.

The Youth wing's motion also called on the PAS leadership to defend Islam by 'mainstreaming' the call for Islamisation and increasing the public's understanding and awareness of Islam.

It also urged them to hold discussions with the state muftis as well as Council of Rulers so that action can be taken against those quarters that seek to challenge the authority of Islam and the syariah courts in the country.

PAS Youth also called on non-governmental organisations, political parties and the society at large to understand and respect freedom of religion and the 'real' principle behind Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.

The resolution, which was seconded by the party's influential scholars wing Dewan Ulama, was passed by the delegates.