What happens when law enforcers take it upon themselves to 'propagate' rules and regulations? What happens when the law enforcers in question represent a religious agency? Does upholding the law mean they have the right to act and speak in any manner they deem fit?

This is a dilemma that faces Muslims, especially the youths, in our country. The recent raid by the Federal Territory Religious Department (Jawi) at a popular club in Kuala Lumpur served as yet another example of how overzealousness vis-a-vis duty to nation fails to serve any purpose at all.

The Sunday Mail on Jan 23 highlighted the predicament of 100 Muslim youths, half of whom were women, detained in the faux pas raid on Jan 20. Not only were these youngsters humiliated, the women were also sexually harassed, with the officers making derogatory remarks about their dressing.

The high-handed manner in which the raid was conducted clearly reflects the fact that the raiding party concerned had no intention of promulgating the Quran's teachings to the Muslim youngsters.

Rather, the raiding party was all consumed by anger over the sight of Muslims hanging out in pubs enjoying themselves. The officers, under the myth that tackling the bulls by the horns was the best approach in this case, only ended up making a mockery of the department. Locking up the youngsters for almost 12 hours only resulted in the whole raiding exercise exploding into a flop.

This recent incident, while not the first will definitely not be the last. But for the sake of the true teachings of Islam, we hope such embarrassing and haphazardly planned raids do not feature in the pages of our local newspapers ever again.

With this latest fiasco, the lessons, hopefully have been well learnt by Jawi and also its Selangor counterpart Jais. Whilst upholding the tenets of religion is the reason for their existence, that in itself does not authorise them to strip Muslims of their dignity.

The arm-twisting manner in which the raid was conducted makes one doubt the true intention of that exercise. Was it to penalise and 'discipline' Muslims who saunter into pubs and discotheques? Or was it to flex the muscles of authority over Muslims who choose to venture out for some light hearted fun?

Compassion needed

As paradoxical as it may sound, the recent scandalous raid by Jawi has come with some 'blessings'.

For one, calls have been made to the religious department authorities to introduce crisp clear guidelines on where Muslims can go for rest and recreation. While one and all know that alcohol is forbidden to Muslims, one and all do not know whether Muslims can walk into pubs or discotheques.

The other is that the time has come for the authorities in general to snap out of their bureaucratic slumber and realise that such bullying tactics are going to backfire, for the youths will have no qualms of either denouncing their religion or abdicating their belief in the current ruling government of the Barisan Nasional.

One should never forget that our youths are the hope of a better tomorrow, but this can only take place if the youths are treated with dignity, without their fundamental rights being trampled by virtue of their being young and "ignorant".

There is no place for cockiness in issues such as these. Using charges like "indecent behaviour" without even explaining to the already dazed youths what it means does not augur well for a religious body.

Should these youths who were detained in the Jawi raid choose to forfeit their voting rights as a result of this nasty experience, who do we rightfully blame?

The raid also serves as a wake up call to all authorities that the adage children are to be seen and not heard does not hold water anymore. Our children carry with them voting rights and should they be treated like hardcore criminals, then perhaps the government should not be regretting the number of votes it stands to lose in an election. As the saying goes you reap what you sow.

Every religion professes compassion. Jesus Christ for example says if one is slapped, one should not hesitate to offer the other cheek as well.

It will do us all good to ponder over this.

Bleak future

The teachings of Islam rest on compassion. Forgiveness is another virtue that we are all taught to uphold. However, in the raids conducted by authorities like Jawi and Jais, sadly, these two basic and important virtues are missing.

On the contrary, it is the fear of the religion and the fear of having sinned that is drummed into those detained in such raids.

If status quo remains as it were where such raids are concerned, then the scenario for Malaysia looks bleak where its Muslim youths go. Instead of allowing them some space to enjoy the country's democracy at work, these kids are taken to task for the mere reason that they are Muslims.

To add salt to injury, such raids only serve as a sigh of relief for non-Muslims, for they have no fear of being persecuted just because they stepped into a place of recreation.

I'm not a Muslim, therefore I fear no humiliation and no condemnation. Is this how religious tolerance and understanding is taking place in a multi racial and multi religious nation like ours? If it is, then it is truly up to the powers that be, which sadly, have been so silent about the Jan 20 raid, to institute reformations that build, not that which instil fear and hatred.

JJ RAY started her career with a mainstream publication. A non-conformist, she soon saw the barriers that went up whenever, through her writing, she tried to make the world a home for one and all.