Sharia courts given jurisdiction over Christian conversion in Malaysia
from Global Christian News.
Malaysia’s highest court has ruled that Christians converting from Islam cannot change their officially registered religion without permission from a sharia court, effectively leaving converts open to being prosecuted for apostasy. The court ruled against four Christian converts from Sarawak on 27 February 2018, who had requested to be able to remove their Muslim status from their compulsory identity cards. Although the panel of five judges admitted that state Islamic courts did not have formal jurisdiction over conversion, they ruled that it “could be implied” sharia courts could rule on those wishing to convert from Islam.
In appealing to a sharia court to change religion, converts will leave themselves open to prosecution for apostasy, which carries a three-year jail term.
See also: Christians in Malaysia fight for rights after court ruling on conversion, from Rejoice 96.9
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