Malaysia withdraws controversial conversions bill

July 09, 2013
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Authorities have withdrawn a recently introduced Islamic-based bill that would have allowed one parent to provide consent for the religious conversion of a child amid criticism from minorities, local media reported Saturday (July 6th).

  • A Muslim woman with her child shops in downtown Kuala Lumpur. On Saturday (July 6th), the Malaysian government withdrew its controversial law allowing one parent to give consent for the religious conversion of a child. [Saeed Khan/AFP]

    A Muslim woman with her child shops in downtown Kuala Lumpur. On Saturday (July 6th), the Malaysian government withdrew its controversial law allowing one parent to give consent for the religious conversion of a child. [Saeed Khan/AFP]

The debate was rekindled after a Hindu woman claimed her estranged husband converted their children to Islam without her knowledge after embracing the religion last year. According to Sharia law, a non-Muslim parent cannot share custody of converted children, AFP reported.

The Star quoted Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin as saying the cabinet had discussed the issues surrounding the status of a child's religion in such cases. "We agreed that the bill's withdrawal was necessary to ensure that such cases were resolved in a fair manner to all."

Tian Chua, an MP with the People's Justice Party led by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim told AFP, "If the law had been pushed through, it would definitely cause tensions in society because the law seems to favour Muslims while other minorities would be denied justice."

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