The book, ‘Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism’, published by Sisters in Islam (SIS) was banned by the Home Ministry last year because it was prejudicial to public order, the High Court here was told today.

Senior federal counsel Noor Hishamuddin Ismail submitted this argument in a judicial review sought by SIS to lift the prohibition order on the book issued by the then home minister Syed Hamid Albar, on Nov 5 last year.

He said it was a discretionary power conferred on the home minister by law to ban the book if he found it to be prejudicial to public order and he had exercised his power rightly.

"The minister had issued the prohibition order according to law and the principles of procedural fairness as publication is a subject matter of federal law," he said.

Noor Hishamuddin also submitted that the minister's conduct in referring to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for expert opinion on Islamic laws in this case was correct and permissible under the administrative law.

It would tantamount to an abuse of power if the minister did not do so.

It can confuse Muslim women

The book is a collection of essays by activists and international intellectuals which was edited by sociologist Prof Norani Othman of the Malaysian and International Studies Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

The book was banned on the ground that it was inclined towards confusing the Muslim community, particularly women, and an attempt to interpret statements about Islam.

SIS claimed that the ban on the book was outside the ambit of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and contravened Articles 8(2), 10(1)(a) and 11(4) of the Federal onstitution.

Hearing before judge Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof continues on Dec 16.

- Bernama