Judgment hailed as ‘courageous’ and ‘fantastic’

After working in crisis areas around the globe as a humanitarian aid worker with UNHCR for 16 years, Sumithra Vee has decided to of Womens Aid Organisation. AZMAN GHANI / The Star

PETALING JAYA: Civil society and social activists dubbed the Federal Court’s landmark decision “a huge victory” for Malaysians.

“It affirms that both parents have equal right to decide on their child’s religion,” said Women’s Aid Organisation executive director Sumitra Visvanathan (pic).

She said the verdict is testament to the tenacity and courage of M. Indira Gandhi, lawyers and women’s groups who have fought against unilateral conversion.

“It is a grave violation of women’s rights and has led to more grievous violations, including child abduction,” said Sumitra.

She urged the police to reunite Indira with her youngest child Prasana Diksa, saying “No one should have to experience the injustice that Indira went through”.

Unicef Malaysia representative Marianne Clark-Hattingh said the ruling is in line with the “best interests of the child” principle upheld by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“Article 3 states that the best interests of the child must be the primary concern of all adults making decisions on their children’s behalf.

“All adults should do what is best for children, considering the impact of their decisions. The ‘best interests of the child’ is a fundamental principle in the UN Convention, which Malaysia is party to,” she said.

Lawyer and social activist Siti Kassim said: “Some of the lawyers there, including me, were tearing (up) as the judge was reading (the verdict). This is such an important decision. My faith is restored. Thank you, judges. Thank you.”

Former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim also hailed the ruling as courageous and added: “It gives us hope that the basic structure of the Federal Constitution will always be preserved. It’s now up to the police to show the people that justice is not mere pronouncement, but enforceable and implemented.”

“A cause for celebration! A momentous judgment by a courageous judge,” former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan tweeted.

Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen congratulated the Federal Court in a tweet: “Congratulations to the Federal Court, it was a difficult case, but absolutely the right decision in favour of justice and constitutionalism.”

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah also tweeted: “Fantastic decision at the Federal Court on Indira Gandhi’s case! High Court decision upheld. No more unilateral conversion from now on!”