A video depicting a Muslim woman celebrating Hari Raya with her dogs has drawn a firestorm of protest.

However, Maznah Mohd Yusof, 38 denied that she had insulted Islam as claimed by her critics.

NONE Speaking to Malaysiakini today, the dog trainer said it was her Muslim critics who were in actual fact disparaging their religion.

"I love my religion. I think these people should learn about their religion first, and not misinterpret my video, which was made three years ago.

"My religion has taught me about the importance of cleanliness... hence this why in the video, I am cleaning myself and my dogs," she said.

Maznah was also saddened that the mosque imam in her area had also expressed outrage over the matter.

"As a religious leader, doesn't he know about Islamic laws?

"As far as I am concerned, my religion does not forbid me from keeping dogs or caring for them," she added.

Maznah, better known as Chetz, lamented that even her Muslim neighbours, who had no qualms with her keeping dogs before this, were now upset as well.

"This video was made three years ago, why make an issue about it now?

"I believe this is related to the case of bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee... because initially, those who viewed the video mistook me for a Chinese," she said.

The bloggers landed in the soup following a Facebook posting that was deemed offensive to Muslims.

Text message threats

Maznah also revealed that she had been receiving threats via text messages from those who obtained her mobile phone number from her dog training website.

"One of the messages read ' Kau dah hidup lama ke? ' (Have you lived too long?)" she said, adding that she would file a police report.

Maznah revealed that her passion for dogs started when she rescued five strays in 2007 and has been a dog trainer since for the last four years.

NONE Her video titled "1Hari di Hari Raya" - which is available on YouTube - had since made the news.

Utusan Malaysia reported that the video showed "a youth dressed in baju Melayu bathing her dogs on the morning of Hari Raya before 'taking wuduk' (ablution)."

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had been asked to take action with regard to the video.

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