Unilateral conversion of kids to be challenged in a judicial review

GEORGE TOWN: The unilateral conversion of Loh Siew Hong’s three children will be challenged in a judicial review, says lawyer Dr Shamsher Singh Thind.

He said he had issued a letter of demand to the registrar of converts (Pendaftar muallaf) in three states (Penang, Perlis and Kedah) on Wednesday, asking for the status of the children’s conversion.

“The Federal Constitution states that the faith of the child will be determined by both parents of the children, not by the wishes of the children or other third parties.

“They have been given seven days to reply from the date of the letter of demand issued,” he said.

Shamser said once his client could get hold of which state her children had been registered as Muslims, the registrar of converts should then provide proof that consent had been given by the mother for the children’s conversion.

Failure to provide proof of consent would compel them to cancel the children’s conversion, he said.

Meanwhile, Penang mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said while Loh should be given custody of her three children, their conversion to Islam should not be reversed.

He said reversing their conversion might further complicate the situation, and stressed that they should remain Muslim.

He was quoted by Free Malaysia Today as saying that the bond among members of a family must always be nurtured even if they have different religions, especially between mother and child.

The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) called on the government to ensure Loh be given the opportunity to see her three children as often as possible.

Abim president Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz said the issue has been dragged on for too long and needed to be solved.

“We at Abim believe that the mother, who is not a Muslim, must be given the leeway to see her children as often as possible,” he said.

“A mother’s love for her children is a nature bestowed by God to humans, which no one has the right to violate.”