Investigations against four Shiite Muslims arrested in Taman Sri Gombak are expected to be wrapped up today, with the four also expected to appear before the Gombak Barat Lower Syariah Court on June 7 for the mention of the charge against them.

They were arrested yesterday afternoon in a raid on a gathering celebrating the birthday of Fatimah Zahra, a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, conducted by religious department officers and 20 policemen.

The four are Mohd Kamilzuhairi Abdul Aziz, Radin Ahmad Faizul Radin Mohd Hambali, Mohd Asyraf Ahmad and Syed Mohd Shafik Syed Hussin and they are being investigated under Section 12(c) of the Selangor Syariah Crimes Enactment 1995.

Section 12(c) pertains to acting in contempt of the lawful authorities, or defying, violating or questioning an order or directive of a mufti or a fatwa that has been issued.

A fatwa or Islamic edict passed by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Jais) disallows involvement in, learning or propagating the Shiite teaching. Those found guilty of doing so can be fined up to RM3,000, jailed up to two years, or both.

Islamic authorities in Selangor have proclaimed Shiism to be deviant teaching, with the Sunni school of thought being the only 'accepted' stream in Malaysia.

A 1989 Islamic law and a 1996 fatwa by top Islamic clerics banned Shiism, declaring it a "deviant ideology."