The case against Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) director Farouk Musa is in limbo as his alleged religious offence is still "under investigation" by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi).

Farouk had reportedly been told to appear before the Syariah Court today to face a charge related to abetment in teaching Islam without "tauliah" (accreditation), but there have been conflicting instructions from the religious authorities.

Despite the court date, Farouk claims his assistant was also told verbally by Jawi officials, that Farouk has to present himself at Jawi's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, also today.

Farouk was in early October, charged with "abetting a crime" under Section 43 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Act 1997, believed to pertain to the IRF organising talks and book launches with Turkish-American journalist Mustafa Akyol (photo).

In light of the conflicting instructions, Farouk’s lawyer Rosli Dahlan had sent a series of letters to both Jawi and the Syariah prosecution department requesting for clarification.

The department had responded, saying that it had to yet to receive investigation papers from Jawi and explaining that the department was no longer under the purview of Jawi.

Jawi, however, had in a Nov 23 letter, said that the case "remained in investigation stage". The letter did not specify if Farouk was still required to appear at Jawi, or not.

When contacted today, Rosli said: "(There is) no prosecution yet.

"The (Shariah Prosecution department) can't give me the documents and information I requested (because Jawi has not given them the investigation papers)," he told Malaysiakini.

'Very confusing’ case

 

Farouk, meanwhile, said the case has been "very confusing".

"Jawi is clueless as to whether I should go to them or the Syariah Court. If you read the letters (between my lawyer and the authorities), you will realise how inefficient the religious authorities are," he said when contacted.

Farouk got into trouble with the authorities after the IRF organised a series of talks and book launches featuring Mustafa, back in September.

Mustafa was scheduled to speak at a forum entitled “The Islamic Jesus: the Commonalities Between Judaism, Christianity and Islam” but was summoned by Jawi and questioned for allegedly preaching without tauliah (accreditation) before he could do so. He was later detained at the airport.

IRF’s Malay-language translation of Mustafa’s books, along with two other books by Farouk, were later banned by the Home Ministry.

Farouk was subsequently charged with abetting a crime, which carries a fine of RM5,000 or three years’ imprisonment, or both, if found guilty.

In response, Farouk has filed for judicial review against both his criminal trial and the book bans, appointing Freedom Fund to help crowdsource funding for the lawsuits.

Freedom Fund coordinator Thomas Fann informed Malaysiakini that a total of RM13,402.60 had been collected for Farouk’s lawsuits, a far cry from the targeted RM70,000. They continue to appeal for donations.