PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: Malaysia's top secular court on Wednesday rejected a Muslim convert's appeal to be recognized as a Christian, in a landmark case that tested the limits of religious freedom in this moderate Islamic country.
A three-judge Federal Court panel ruled that only the Islamic Shariah Court has the power to allow Azlina Jailani — who changed her name to Lina Joy after becoming a Christian — to remove the word "Islam" from the religion category on her government identity card.
Malaysia's Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim said the panel endorsed past legal judgments that state the Shariah court — not the civil legal system — has the jurisdiction to hear cases of Muslims who want to renounce Islam.
"This appeal is rejected," Ahmad Fairuz said.
A three-judge Federal Court panel ruled that only the Islamic Shariah Court has the power to allow Azlina Jailani — who changed her name to Lina Joy after becoming a Christian — to remove the word "Islam" from the religion category on her government identity card.
Malaysia's Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim said the panel endorsed past legal judgments that state the Shariah court — not the civil legal system — has the jurisdiction to hear cases of Muslims who want to renounce Islam.
"This appeal is rejected," Ahmad Fairuz said.
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