Social activist Marina Mahathir has settled her suit against Malay NGO Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma).

This follows Isma agreeing to express regret over 70,000 leaflets distributed to several mosques all over the country alleging Marina to be the person behind rights-based NGO, Comango.‎

"The article is not meant to paint a bad picture. We regret that the article had brought odium and hardship to her," said Isma's deputy chairperson Aminuddin Yahya.

The consent judgment today was made before Justice Noraini  Abdul Rahman.

A tearful Marina - daughter of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad - was seen hugging her daughter Ineza Rousille and husband Thoro Sosrowardoyo at the end of the proceedings.

The consent judgment came after six hours of mediation and it was called before justice Noraini at 4.50pm. Initially a statement was prepared but was amended several times by Isma.

Marina filed a defamation suit against Isma on Jan 16 last year and named Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman ( photo ), Aminuddin and 13 committee members as the defendants.

The social activist, who is also a member of the board of directors of Sisters in Islam (SIS), alleged Isma circulated 70,000 pamphlets with the heading, ‘ Antara 54 NGO dalam Comango ’ (Among the 54 NGOs in Comango) at mosques in Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, Putrajaya, Seremban, Samarahan (Sarawak), Malacca, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu on Nov 8 last year.

The former Malaysian Aids Foundation chairperson further alleged that Isma also posted another article with the heading, ‘ Isma edar risalah dedah dalang Comango’ (Isma distributed 70,000 pamplets exposing the masterminds in Comango) on its website and Facebook on that same day.

Big sin in Islam to slander

Aminuddin in reading the statement of retraction admitted to publication in the web and the printing of 70,000 copies which claimed that Marina was the mastermind behind the Comango movement, and she was a liberal leader in SIS which demanded for the acceptance of unnatural sex, for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

He further said the article painted a picture as though she allowed the freedom of deviant religions such as Shia, proselytisation, the eradication of Malay rights and matters pertaining to Islam and sovereignty of the constitution.

“We recognise her as a respected leader of the community who fights for the current issues in the country and also outside the country.

“The article is not meant to paint a picture as described above. We express regret if the article and pamphlets had brought a negative impact on Marina as a figure who is liberal and anti-Islam,” Aminuddin read.

Marina ( photo ) expressed her relief outside the courtroom as the case was settled after so many hours.

“It has been a relief and so long to get here. It has been more than one-and-a-half years.

“What they said is defamatory and what is even more shocking in the pamphlet was that I am the only Muslim labeled as such,” she said with a tinge of sadness.

She expressed her shock at the publication of the article which she said was not true, by those those who are supposedly religious and yet commit fitnah (slander).

“For this reason, I had to pursue. The article painted me as anti-Muslim and this was very hard on me.

“It is a defamation where fitnah in Islam is considered a bigger sin than killing someone,” she said, describing the cry after the proceedings as “tears of relief”.

Marina said this is her first case and felt really emotional talking about it as Isma had attacked her character and integrity.

“You have to understand that I was not brought up like that. You should not slander people like what I had faced and those groups who think it is alright should think otherwise.

"We may have differences in opinion but do not slander," she added.

Isma was represented by Azad Bashir while Marina was represented by a team of lawyers led by Rosli Dahlan.