Religious minorities generally free in M'sia: US report
WASHINGTON - Religious minorities in Malaysia generally worship freely, although with some restrictions, the United States said in an annual report on religious freedoms worldwide.
"The Government enforces some restrictions on the establishment of non-Muslim places of worship and on the activities of political opponents in mosques," the State Department said in its International Religious Freedom Report 2002.
"The constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, Islam is the official religion, and the practice of Islamic beliefs other than Sunni Islam is restricted significantly."
"The government continues to monitor the activities of the Shi'a minority, and the government periodically detained members of what it considers Islamic 'deviant sects' without trial or charge under the Internal Security Act (ISA)".
Religious minorities include Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and Sikh communities and "religious minorities generally worship freely although with some restrictions," the report said.
"The countrys various religious believers generally live amicably."
WASHINGTON - Religious minorities in Malaysia generally worship freely, although with some restrictions, the United States said in an annual report on religious freedoms worldwide.
"The Government enforces some restrictions on the establishment of non-Muslim places of worship and on the activities of political opponents in mosques," the State Department said in its International Religious Freedom Report 2002.
"The constitution provides for freedom of religion; however, Islam is the official religion, and the practice of Islamic beliefs other than Sunni Islam is restricted significantly."
"The government continues to monitor the activities of the Shi'a minority, and the government periodically detained members of what it considers Islamic 'deviant sects' without trial or charge under the Internal Security Act (ISA)".
Religious minorities include Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, and Sikh communities and "religious minorities generally worship freely although with some restrictions," the report said.
"The countrys various religious believers generally live amicably."
"The Government imposes Islamic religious law on Muslims only in some matters and does not impose Islamic law beyond the Muslim community."
Discriminatory interpretations
However, Muslims who wish to convert from Islam face severe obstacles and "proselytizing of Muslims by members of other religions is prohibited strictly."
"The Government discourages - and in practical terms forbids - the circulation in peninsular Malaysia of Malay-language translations of the Bible and distribution of Christian tapes and printed materials in Malay. However, Malay-language Christian materials are available."
In family and religious matters, "all Muslims are subject to syariah law. According to some women's rights activists, women are subject to discriminatory interpretations of syariah law and inconsistent application of the law from state to state.
"State governments in Kelantan and Terrengganu, which are controlled by the Islamic opposition party PAS, made efforts to restrict Muslim women's dress in 2000. In Kelantan, a total of 120 Muslim women were fined between January and May 2002 for not adhering to the dress code." AFP
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