‘Case is about jurisdiction not about religion’

0

Archbishop Simon Poh

KUCHING: Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching, the Most Reverend Simon Poh, has called on Christians to carefully understand the apostasy cases before the Federal Court yesterday.

The Federal Court had dismissed the appeals of three Muslim converts and a Muslim by birth to have their apostasy cases heard in a civil court, ruling that the jurisdiction lies with the Sarawak Syariah Court.

“This case is not the Church versus Islam but on the dispute of who has the jurisdiction to allow a Muslim to murtad, either the Syariah Court or the civil court.

“Naturally, since we have the Syariah Court to govern the Muslims, the Syariah Court has the power to grant the Muslims leave from Islam according to the law.

Therefore, we did not lose this case nor did we win it,” Poh said in a message to Christians yesterday.

“Next, we should pray that the lawmakers will table a just law to face this issue. Do not lose hope. By the way, I was at the court hearing yesterday and I testify that the judges were very neutral and fair. Pray, continue to pray. With God, nothing is impossible.”

To those concerned for his safety following viral videos showing him being heckled and surrounded by some members of the crowd at the courthouse, Poh assured them that he is fine.

“There was commotion in court and the crowd was getting rowdy after the judgement. Many good Muslims were there to escort me safely out of the courthouse, including Puan Zabariah (Matali), a personal friend who is the chief executive officer of the Islamic Information Centre,” he said.

He stressed that it was a group of Muslims and others, who escorted him safely to his vehicle.