Rights advocates have expressed outrage, albeit belatedly, over the arrest and detention of followers of Ayah Pin, a 65-year-old man espousing an all-encompassing religious philosophy who had been jailed for deviating from Islam.

Sisters in Islam (SIS), in a statement dated yesterday, condemned the authorities' "punitive action" and calls to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) against Ayah Pin, or Ariffin Muhammad, and members of the Sky Kingdom.

Spokesperson Masjaliza Hamzah said the Sky Kingdom saga showed how religious authorities used state and federal resources to punish Ayah Pin and his followers without due consideration for their constitutional and religious rights.

"The government must take a brave and principled stand to respect freedom of religion.

"The principle of religious freedom is clearly affirmed in the Quran and reflected in Article 11 of the Federal Constitution and Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"The Quran is explicit and consistent in its recognition of freedom of religion," she said.

"How can religious authorities and Muslims demand that those wishing to convert to Islam should have all the freedom to do so (while) at the same time deny this freedom to Muslims who wish to leave their faith or belief?"

Ayah Pin and the Sky Kingdom followers grabbed media spotlight in recent weeks following a crackdown by Terengganu authorities on the village several times in an attempt to stamp out alleged deviant practices.

Respect and dignity

Citing a particular verse, Masjaliza said messages in the Quran should not be translated into detention and forced rehabilitation for those who believe differently.

"Freedom of religion must recognise the right to practice one's religion, however unorthodox the beliefs may be," said Masjaliza, reiterating SIS' stand against any effort to criminalise people on the basis of their faith.

"This right includes the freedom to change one's religion or belief, either alone or in community with others, in public or private.

"Followers of unorthodox beliefs should be treated with respect and dignity."

She said that unless they resorted to violence, there was no basis to claim they are a threat to the rule of law or national security.

"If truly the religious authorities are concerned about the spiritual practices of Ayah Pin and his followers, then the path to take is not through punishment and mandatory detention but education and dialogue," she said.

Within the last one week, Kampung Batu 13 in Hulu Besut was torched by angry mobsters and then raided by religious authorities who arrested 48 followers currently facing syariah criminal charges.

Local police are still looking for the culprits and have recorded statements from several suspects, including two who were reportedly remanded yesterday.

Violation of free thought

Yesterday, a group of KL-based Ayah Pin followers handed over their complaints of rights violations to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and appealed for protection.

The group claimed infringement of their right to freedom of religion, life, security and liberty under the Malaysian constitution.

They also claimed a violation of the right to free thought, conscience and religion under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention of Rights of the Child.

Malaysian Youth and Students Democratic Movement (Dema) national affairs secretary Ginie Lim strongly opposed calls to detain Ayah Pin and his followers under the ISA reportedly made by 20 non-governmental organisations and Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria on the grounds they were a threat to national security.

"We think the draconian ISA should be repealed as it has been misused to serve the interests of certain people.

"We also believe that freedom of religion of any individual should be respected and not overruled by the authorities or mainstream interpretation of religion."

Dema wants the government to restore the rights to religious freedom of Ayah Pin and his followers and to protect them and their village from all forms of harassment.