The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today fixed March 9 for case management in NGO Sisters in Islam's judicial review challenge of a fatwa labeling them as 'liberal deviants'.

SIS seeks a ruling through Section 66A of the Administration of Religion of Islam (Selangor) Enactment (Amendment) 2003, which was enacted in March 2015 and gives the Syariah High Court in Selangor the powers of judicial review.

SIS wants to know whether this is applicable to them retrospectively. Justice Hanipah Farikullah has directed lawyers representing the Selangor Islamic Council to provide the answers.

The case was fixed for mention today as Justice Hanipah takes over the case from Justice Asmabi Mohamad.

It was reported that SIS programme manager, Suri Kempe, had discovered an e-fatwa which singles out SIS as 'liberal deviants' on Oct 20, 2014.

SIS filed the judicial application on Oct 31 in 2014 naming the Selangor fatwa committee, the Selangor Islamic council and the state government as respondents. It obtained leave for its judicial review application to be heard on Dec 10, 2014.

The group was represented by lawyer Fahri Azzat. Also present was SIS executive director Rozana Isa.

Lawyer Yusfarizal Yusoff for Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (Mais) when met after appearing out of Justice Hanipah's chambers, explained its position was that SIS cannot challenge at the civil High Court as fatwa can only be contested at the Syariah court.

Even with Section 66A, he explained that SIS has not exhausted its legal options as it can appeal to the state Fatwa council as stipulated under Section 50 of the Enactment.

Appearing with Yusfarizal was Majdah Muda for the council. Rozana added that it needed clarification on that matter first and SIS was surprised that it had no details.