Syariah is Not Cruel, Crown Prince Told

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in his sabda said the notion that the Syariah Penal Code is a cruel force of law is absolutely not true, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.

His Royal Highness emphasised that whatever the determination and decision made, it is allegedly in accordance with processes and procedures that are thorough and systematic, fair, whether they pertain to the prosecution, defence or witnesses in court. The Crown Prince made the address at the Opening of the Youth Seminar on Understanding Syariah Criminal Law 2014 at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday.

His Royal Highness was greeted by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah as Patron of the Committee for the Youth Seminar on Understanding Syariah Criminal Law 2014; the State Mufti, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Abd Aziz Juned; the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman; and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Paduka Awg Hj Md Hamid Hj Md Jaafar.

The Youth Seminar on Understanding Syariah Criminal Law is jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the State Mufti’s Office (SMO), both of which have been conspired to support and embrace the implementation of the Syariah Penal Code Act.

The ceremonial proceedings commenced with the reading of holy verses of Al-Qur’an by the Champion Qari in the Final of the National Youth Al-Qur’an Reading Competition 2013, Awg Md Sa’dun Suhaili.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Hazair in his welcoming address explained that, through the seminar, youths would be able to witness the greatness and beauty of Islamic laws that would effectively build strong and constructive confidence towards the implementation of Syariah criminal laws in Brunei Darussalam.

The youths could also rationalise and think openly about the subject matter as Muslims, whereby the youths see Islam as a religion that is beautiful, peace loving and that guarantees justice. Yang Berhormat Pehin further said not only would the youths gain better understanding on the provisions in the Syariah Penal Code that are being enforced, they would also be able to better understand the aspects of prosecution processes and procedures, including matters pertaining to evidence and witnesses, before a sentence is passed in court.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, in the sabda, said the Syariah Penal Code Order that Brunei Darussalam will be implementing in a short time is a blessed endowment from Allah the Almighty, as it originates from Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah, and its Creator is the All Just, All Discerning and All Knowing.

His Royal Highness consented to receive a pesambah from the Committee for the Youth Seminar on Understanding Syariah Criminal Laws.

In the Keynote Paper entitled ‘Exploring the Greatness and Beauty of Islamic Law’, the Dean of the Syariah and Law Faculty at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Associate Professor Dr Hj Abd Mohaimin Hj Noordin Ayus among other things explained that the main aim of Islamic legislation is to realise ‘Maqasid Syariah’, that is, noble objectives for which punitive measures are imposed in order to attain goodness. Those objectives are rewards given by Allah the Almighty for the happiness of the faithful in the world and in the Hereafter.

Doa Selamat was recited by Yang Berhormat Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Dr Ustaz Hj Awg Yahya Hj Ibrahim.

The Youth Seminar on Understanding Shari’ah Criminal Law, which carries the theme ‘Exploring the Greatness and Beauty of Islamic Law’ was intended for more than a thousand youths comprising government officers and youths from Higher Education Institutions, Sixth Form Centres, secondary schools, trainees and former trainees of the National Service Programme, mosque youths, members of youth associations and youths with special needs.

The seminar is seen as a significant effort particularly in answering the titah call of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam regarding the implementation of Syariah in the country.

The seminar also proves to be a welcoming gesture for the coming into force of the Syariah Penal Code Order in the Sultanate while at the same time promoting greater understanding amongst youths on the significance and beauty of Syariah criminal law in Brunei Darussalam, and motivating them to live Syariah-centric lives.