Oaths imposed on some PAS elected representatives, warranting that they divorce their spouses if they leave the party does not demean women, said PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Instead, he said, it places women in a high position.

“PAS mandates (electoral candidates) take an oath (to remain in the party) or face the wrath of God.

“Some states include divorce in the oath but this does not demean the wife. Instead, it elevates her to the level that one’s love for the wife is equated to one’s love for Allah,” he said in a lengthy statement today.

He said even Prophet Muhammad’s companions had taken oaths in their parents’ name, and this is seen as a way to strengthen their oaths.

Hadi’s statement comes despite PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan last weekend saying that PAS will not pursue the oath issue with reps who had defected from the party.

Kelantan PAS is the only state where elected representatives take an oath to divorce their wives with little possibility of reconciliation, if they leave PAS.

Two elected representatives from Kelantan – Dr Hatta Ramli (Kuala Krai, photo ) and Kamaruddin Jaafar (Tumpat) – have defected to splinter party Parti Amanah Negara and PKR, respectively.

This prompted quarters within and outside of PAS to question the legitimacy of their marriages, and urged them to enter divorce proceedings at the Syariah Court.

According to Hadi, the oaths taken by the elected representatives follow the Quran and sunnah (prophetic traditions).

However, he said no oath or political cooperation can supercede loyalty to the Islamic struggle.

“PAS has tasted defeat in elections multiple times but we remain victorious in our steadfast faith to struggle to build a nation which follows Allah’s teachings.

“Allah’s demands cannot give way to the needs of others, including the best of our friends,” he said.