Group disappointed with removal of clause

PETALING JAYA: The Government’s plan to withdraw a clause that would stop unilateral conversion of children to Islam by one parent under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Bill is disappointing, says Sisters in Islam (SIS).

The group said the current law had failed to serve justice or provide substantive legal recourse for the non-converting spouse, adding this would only cause more pain and harm towards them.

“With the long-drawn court processes in having to address jurisdictional issues, more often than not, prolongs the uncertainty and denies justice to be immediately upheld for the families concerned,” it said in response to the Govern­ment’s decision to table fresh amendments to the Bill relating to the unilateral conversion of children.

The new Bill may not include the proposed Clause 88A which states that the religion of the child “shall remain as the religion of the parties to the marriage prior to the conversion”.

SIS noted that cases of unilateral conversions as experienced by S. Deepa and M. Indira Gandhi and many others indicated extensive emotional suffering, adding that “there is a critical need for the Bill to prevent these experiences happening again to non-converting spouses”.

G25 group of eminent Malays member Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin (pic) felt that the Bill did not seem to be “well thought through” as it negated religious freedom for persons below 18.

She added that more public discourse on this issue was needed to find a just solution and to prevent abuse and hardship to the affected parties while ensuring Muslim religious obligations were not disregarded.

Indira, who is embroiled in a long-standing custody battle with her ex-husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah over their youngest daughter Prasana Diksa after his conversion, was shocked to learn that the Government had planned to withdraw the clause in question.

“I really cannot put into words how I feel, I cannot understand why this is happening.

“I am disappointed that all the hard work, dilemma and turmoil we’ve been facing has gone to waste,” she said when contacted.

As for her still missing youngest daughter, Indira said she was not giving up on being reunited with her.