A group of local Shiite followers has submitted a memorandum to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), alleging their rights had been violated.

The 30 or so followers are seeking an open apology from the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais), its director and its enforcement officer following the raid at their premises in Gombak on Dec 15.

NONE "We the community of Ahlul Bait (Shiite) in Malaysia are seeking Suhakam’s assistance to protect our minority rights based on the federal constitution," its spokesperson Kamil Zuhairi Ab Aziz ( left ) said.

"If other community like the Hindus, Buddhist, Christians, Sikhs and others have their right to worship and practise, why not us?

"We were condemned, criticised, slandered and threatened just because we practise what had been preached by our ancestors who are also Imami Shiite followers.

"There are between 200 to 500 million Muslim Shiite followers worldwide," he said.

The memorandum was accepted by Suhakam commissioner Mohd Sha’ani Abdullah.

This is the first time that they had come forward to the media since the Gombak raid.

'Merely a tahlil session'

Kamil explained they had no intention to spread the Shiite teaching but it was merely a tahlil session (special prayers) to Prophet Muhammad’s grandchildren.

He refuted claims or generalisations made that the Imami Shiism which they practised is similar to that practised in other countries.

“We are not involved in bloodshed, militant activities, violence or use of weapons,” he said, adding they were willing to work together with the authorities to counter such misconceptions.

Following this, Kamil is asking Jais, its director Mohd Khusrin Munawi and its enforcement personnel to apologise openly as the raid and allegations made had resulted in “lies or slander creating confusion in the community” upon them.

They said that they would also ask popular preacher Dr Hassan Din to apologise, as he had stated that a marriage to someone practising Shiism would result in it being declared void and the children born out of it are deemed to be born out of wedlock.

Kamil said the misconceptions that the people have about what they are practising is as a result of the failure by the authorities to hold dialogues with them to create better understanding.

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