KOTA KINABALU: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has warned Muslims or Malays against attending events organised by atheist groups, saying they face charges under Syariah law.
“Any Muslims found attending or becoming members of these groups will face charges under Syariah law,” he said during an official visit with the Sabah police contingent here on Thursday.
He said it was not their “right to attend” or become members of such groups according to Malaysian law, without elaborating.
On Wednesday, Khalid warned these groups to not hold programmes that may upset Malaysians including Muslims and those of other religions.
It was reported that the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) was investigating Muslims who joined the Atheist Republic after an image of a gathering organised by the group went viral on social media.
Atheist Republic has close to two million followers and supporters on Facebook, with hundreds of chapters worldwide including in Indonesia and the Philippines.
On Aug 8, Minister in Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim urged muftis and state governments to take action against atheist groups in the country, claiming that their practice is against the Constitution.
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