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Baru Bian blasts death threats, insults over apostasy case

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Sarawak PKR chief sets the record straight, refuting allegations that he was making Muslims ‘murtad’ and taking up the case for free to further a Christian agenda.

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PETALING JAYA:
Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian has defended his role as a lawyer in a case of four Sarawakian Muslims seeking to convert out of Islam.

His response came after he received death threats aside from “insults and other abuse” from some Muslims over a case which was heard by the Federal Court in Putrajaya earlier this week.

The apex court ruled yesterday that the Sarawak Shariah Court can hear apostasy cases, in dismissing an application by the four Sarawakians for the civil court to hear their apostasy cases.

“The kneejerk reaction of some members of the Muslim community in hurling insults and abuse at me, and even calling for my death, after the Federal Court decision yesterday, clearly shows that they do not know the background of the cases.

“They don’t know how the legal trials and tribulations of the four individuals have come to this.

“I was out of town attending another case when the decision was delivered.

“Upon my return last night, I was saddened and shocked to see the videos and postings, and the statement by PAS Youth against me,” Baru said in a strongly-worded statement today.

He also refuted allegations that he was “Christianising” Muslims or making Muslims “murtad”.

Clarifying the background to the case of the four individuals who sought to leave Islam, Baru said they had approached him only after they had run out of all options in negotiating their release from Islam via government channels.

“By the time I met them, they had long ceased to be practising Muslims.

“So to accuse me of making them ‘murtad’ is vicious slander.

“I am disappointed that those who profess to practise their religious faith should make these false accusations against me.

“Nevertheless, my own religious conviction compels me to forgive and love them, for they do not know what they are doing,” Baru said.

He also pointed out that it is the system that has failed these four individuals.

The four were seeking a court order to nullify their status as Muslims, and compel the National Registration Department (NRD) to recognise them as Christians.

Syarifah Nooraffyzza Wan Hosen left Islam voluntarily and embraced Christianity in 2009, while Tiong Choo Ting, a Chinese-Bidayuh Christian, who converted to Islam to marry a Muslim woman, later decided to return to Christianity after the death of his wife.

Another is Salina Jau, a Kayan/Kenyah Christian, who converted to Islam to marry a Malay-Muslim man but decided to return to Christianity after her divorce.

The fourth is Jenny Peter, a Melanau Christian, who converted to Islam to marry a Muslim but also decided to return to Christianity after her divorce.

The four jointly sought the Federal Court’s interpretation of the Sarawak Shariah Court Ordinance 2001, and named the Sarawak State Islamic Department director, the Sarawak Islamic Council, the National Registration Department director-general and the state government as respondents.

“They had done everything that they were asked to do. Yet, the release they wanted was never given.

“Their letters to JAIS (Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak) were ignored. In one case, letters to the NRD and even the Sarawak chief minister’s office also met with no response.

“The details of each case differ but I only took up these cases after the applicants had hit the proverbial brick wall,” Baru said.

He added that after taking on the cases, he realised that the law was not clear and the issue had to be brought all the way to the Federal Court, which finally made its decision yesterday morning that the Shariah Court has the jurisdiction to hear apostasy cases.

“The legal issue is now settled.”

Red tape and obstacles

Baru lamented that few lawyers were willing to take on conversion cases for fear of being branded as “menghina Islam” (insulting Islam) or simply because they did not want to come up against all sorts of red tape and obstacles facing these applicants.

“The problem arose because the Shariah Ordinance is silent on its jurisdiction to decide on apostasy matters and the Shariah Court has declined jurisdiction.

“The decision of the Federal Court allows us to move forward. The legislature should consider whether the Ordinance should be amended to make the law clear.”

He again took aim at those who had accused him of having a Christian agenda and that he had provided his legal service “free of charge”, saying such people are “blatant liars”.

“I have been representing them in my professional capacity as a lawyer and they have paid my professional fees and court fees.

“Those who make up lies about me clearly have political motives or have deep-seated insecurity about their own religious convictions.

“If I had any Christian agenda, then the authorities should have taken action against me,” he said.

Baru also expressed his gratitude to Muslims who had stood up to the threats and abuse hurled against Christian leaders and himself.

“I wish to thank them for the very rational and reasonable stands made by them, including my colleagues in Sarawak PKR.

“I believe it is time for many others to join in this chorus calling for acceptance and peace.”

Police probe

Meanwhile, Sarawak police are investigating the death threat by a Facebook user against Baru, Bernama quoted Sarawak CID chief SAC  Dev Kumar MM Sree Shunmugam as saying.

Sarawak PKR had earlier today lodged a police report after a Facebook user came up with a death threat against Baru, who is also state assemblyman for Ba’kelalan.

“We are investigating the report as criminal intimidation under section 507 of the Penal Code and section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act,” said Dev.

He said efforts were being made to identify the Facebook user who posted the inflammatory comment.

The police report was lodged by Sarawak PKR vice-chairman See Chee How at the Simpang Tiga one-stop centre here today.

In the police report, See stated that he was alerted today by a comment posted under an online news article “Baru Bian hina umat Islam Sarawak” by a person using the name Helmi Bin Abdullah Mee and his message read “Baru Bian must be shot dead at all cost(s)”.

See stated he was concerned for the safety of Baru.

“Furthermore, the posting is instigating violence and most likely arousing anxiety and hostility among those readers who read this article, thereby disrupting the peace and harmony among all Malaysians and Sarawakians.

“I lodged this complaint for the prompt investigation and action of the police,” See, who is also Batu Lintang assemblyman, said in the report.

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