A follower of the Sky Kingdom deviant sect was today jailed for two years for apostasy by the Kuala Terengganu Syariah Sessions Court.

Judge Muhammad Abdullah ordered that Kamariah Ali, a former religious teacher, to serve her jail term at the Pengkalan Chepa prison in Kelantan.

apostacy case kamariah ali 030308 Muhammad just passed the sentenced today as he had earlier on Feb 17 found Kamariah ( photo ) - a graduate of Al-Azhar University - guilty of apostasy.

He said that in sentencing Kamariah, 57, to the two year jail term, he had considered aspects of public interest of the case and the sentiments of Muslims in the country.

“The court is not convinced that the accused has repented and willing to abandon any teachings contrary to Islam,

“The accused had also failed to response when I greeted her with Assalamualaikum during the start of the court proceeding and this shows that Kamariah has not repented,” he said.

Kamariah was charged under Section 7 of the Syariah Criminal Offence Enactment (Takzir) Terengganu after she declared herself an apostate on July 21, 2005. The offence carries a fine of RM5, 000 or jailed three years or both.

Appeal on Thursday

The court also mentioned that Kamariah had previously served a jail term in 1992 when she was sentenced by a Lower Syariah Court in Kota Baru for apostasy.

Kamariah’s lawyer Sa’diah Din earlier urged the court to grant a lighter sentence and defer the date of her sentencing.

Kamariah’s - a widow with four children - appeal with be heard by the Syariah appellate court on Thursday.

Prosecuting officer Mustafar Hamzah had earlier asked to the court to mete out a severe sentence as her case was of public interest and could affect the faith of other Muslims in Malaysia.

On Feb 17, the court had ruled that Kamariah was guilty of having proclaimed herself an apostate to avoid action being taken against her under syariah. The court ruled that she was still a Muslim.

The court also said that her earlier application at the Syariah High Court in Kelantan to leave the religion had been rejected.

ayahpin sky kingdom destruction 010805 Kamariah is a follower of Kamal Ariffin who is also known as Ayah Pin, whose teachings were considered to be deviant.

She had been arrested together with 58 other followers of Ayah Pin’s Sky Kingdom sect on July 21, 2005.

They were all charged under Section 10 of the Syariah Criminal Offence Enactment (Takzir) (Terengganu 2001) with not adhering to the state fatwa which had ruled Ayah Pin's teachings as deviant.