Sisters-in-Islam (SIS) has formally launched its legal aid clinic in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Legal Aid Centre to assist those in need of advice on Islamic family law matters.

SIS legal officer Nora Murat said the joint initiative started in September last year in response to the large number of inquiries made to this Muslim women's non-government organisation following the publication of an advice column in the Malay language daily, Utusan Malaysia .

"Since we started our column in April 2002 titled Keluarga dan Undang-Undang (Family and Law) we have received a large number of requests for legal assistance.

"We have not been able to cope with all of them on our own so we approached the legal aid centre for assistance," she told a press conference at the organisation's office in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

According to Nora, SIS received more than 600 requests for assistance in 2003 while in January this year alone, the organisation handled more than 150 cases.

"The number of cases is rising so we need the assistance of more syariah lawyers. At the moment, we have only three active lawyers to assist us so we are hoping that more will volunteer."

To date, Nora said the majority of cases handled by SIS dealt with issues relating to divorces.

"About 60 percent of the cases are related to divorce. People want to know their rights in those circumstances. There are also cases of child custody and division of property. Women are often threatened with separation from their children so they want to know about custody rights," she said.

Free advice

On longer term aims, Nora said SIS would encourage larger legal firms specialising in syariah law to set up a pro bono service for pressing cases.

She said there should also be an established body similar to the Bar Council for syariah lawyers so that clients can seek assistance should they face problems with their legal representatives.

"Sometimes, clients have problems with their lawyers and they have come to us. Right now, they have no where to complain so we hope a body like the Bar Council could be set up in future," she said.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Legal Aid Centre chairperson Stanley Sinnappen said one of the main aims of the initiative is to educate the public about their rights vis- B -vis the law.

"One of our main functions is to get the law to the domain of the people. This collaborative effort will help us reach out to people in need of assistance," he said.

Stanley said between November last year and January this year, the centre received 64 cases referred to by SIS.

The joint initiative would involve the posting of a chambering student at SIS every Monday and Friday to assist in dispensing free legal advice and counselling.

Earlier, SIS hosted a housewarming event at its new office at 25, Jalan 5/31, Petaling Jaya.