The Selangor fatwa outlawing  NGO Sisters of Islam for spreading "religious liberalism and pluralism" is too "simplistic" and could even lead to violence, said PKR.

Instead of issuing such a fatwa, PKR religious bureau chief Muhammad Nur Manuty said, there should be constructive dialogue on the issue.

"A fatwa that is too broad and simplistic has detrimental implication to the congregation, for example encouraging a culture of placing labels, making judgments and easily declaring others as apostates.

"In fact, if it goes beyond control, it could also cause conflict and violent threats," he said in a statement.

He said that while it is wrong for a Muslim to practice pluralism to the extent to believe that Islam is the same as other religions, making such judgments on someone is not so easy.

"It should have been done through an analytical, fair and mature process," he said.

Last week SIS filed a judicial review application against the fatwa gazetted in July, which also bars any other entity from publishing SIS’ views.

Dialogue, not edicts

In response, Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali said he has contacted the Selangor Islamic Council and sought that they meet with SIS to have a dialogue on the matter.

The move by Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, was lauded by Muhammad Nur who noted that the Quran calls for dialogue.

Citing a Quranic verse, he said that Muslims are taught to call others to goodness through wisdom and to engage in dialogue and debate.

"Dialogue and consultation among ulama and Muslim intellectuals is needed to resolve religious issues of the day, including pluralism and liberalism. The holy Quran, too, celebrates dialogue.

"The practice of engaging dialogue and two-way communication should be revived to return us to the glory of the Islamic civilisation," he said.

While this position is shared by some PAS parliamentarians, it is heavily opposed by PAS Youth who support the fatwa.

PAS Youth deputy chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi (above) today insisted that SIS is "deviant" and are spreading "Jewish and Christian thinking".