YOURSAY ‘Teachers are in the business of teaching, not religious propagation.’
Boy trapped in religious tussle attempts suicide
Aries46: I've not heard of any other religion anywhere that compels an innocent 14-year-old to convert against his wishes and that of his parents.
What is even worse is his alleged forced confinement at an Islamic centre and being interrogated by the Islamic authorities until the boy had to be rescued by his father.
The victim seemed to be in fear of the Islamic authorities and he has suffered so much trauma that it has driven him to suicide. Who takes responsibility for all this?
What I don't understand is the need for such a unilateral conversion of the minor and such cruelty. What was the outcome of the investigation by the school and the Education Department?
And which law states that a minor can be converted to Islam without consent but has to wait until he turns 18 to revert to his religion?
Flamescanner: The boy's life is in serious danger. Are the religious authorities going to wash their hands off and claim they had no part in this? What is the attorney-general (AG) going to do?
Even if the boy comes out of this alive, and my prayer is that he does, a crime has been committed. What is the state apparatus going to do about this?
Are you going to open a case file and investigate this without fear or favour? Or are you going to claim that you're caught between the devil and deep blue sea of syariah and civil courts and therefore are not going to do anything about it?
Pemerhati: Here are some relevant quotes from Wikipedia. “According to the Center for Disease Control, ingesting paraquat causes symptoms such as liver, lung, heart, and kidney failure within several days to several weeks that can lead to death up to 30 days after ingestion...
“Paraquat is widely used as a suicide agent in third-world countries because it is widely available at low cost. Further, the toxic dose is low (10 mL or 2 teaspoons is enough to kill).”
The boy will be extremely lucky if he survives. These and other episodes make you wonder how is it that the religious officials of a religion that is often described as ‘beautiful’ by world leaders such as George W Bush can cause so much pain and suffering to other human beings.
Negarawan: "He was also supposedly grilled for over three hours by a group claiming to be Islamic Affairs Department officers until his father tracked down his whereabouts and rescued him."
Fear, intimidation and compulsion will not attract anyone towards Islam. Neither should Muslims use their religion to cover their crimes.
Anonymous#007: If no action is taken against the self-proclaimed religious officers/authorities involved, then Umno-BN is party to this.
This is kidnapping, harassment, and possibly attempted murder now, all in the name of Islam. The boy will be traumatised for the rest of his life, together with his family.
Let's not forget the numerous families who have also been traumatised by religious officers and authorities who steal the bodies of their dead relatives or their children in the name of Islam.
There have been an increasing number of forced conversions of minors in Malaysia, but it seems our home minister is busy defending a gambling kingpin and declaring the volunteer peace corps of Penang illegal, while all these crimes are taking place.
Gaji Buta: G Thiyaggurudeen, just hang in there, if need be till you are 18.
Move to another school if you wish. I think your father has the right to put you in whichever school he wishes. And to the father, please be his friend.
Kawak: We are getting these sorts of news often. Recently in Sabah, the father took the daughter from a school where she was said to be converted.
I cannot understand why the obsession to convert people and cause unduly sufferings to others.
Magnus: More religious nonsense causing unnecessary trouble, strife and drama as usual in Malaysia.
I hope the boy recovers and if some Almighty called God/Allah actually exists, then this Almighty will give him the insight and wisdom to become an atheist or an agnostic or a true seeker who shuns all opportunistic and false ideologies and politics often masquerading as "religions".
Maplesyrup: The boy is a minor, for goodness sake! If Islam is perfect for him, can’t the zealots at school and the religious authority wait for him to come of age?
I think these zealots should display more confidence in the religion they want to spread, instead of trying to close the deal by hook or by crook. Now a young life is in jeopardy. I hope he recovers completely.
Sinan Belawan: Religion and paraquat are both highly toxic if they are not handled properly.
Children should be protected from being dragged into religious controversies which will damage them for life. Teachers are in the business of teaching, not religious propagation.
Paraquat is highly hazardous and should be banned. There is no antidote for paraquat. For years, NGOs have called for a ban on the sale and use of paraquat but the Ministry of Agriculture has unfortunately given in to the pesticides industry.
Supercession: Needless to say, these soldiers of God will blame the father for driving his son to suicide.
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