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Washington Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Mamdani faces Islamophobic attacks from GOP lawmakers, commentators
Zohran Mamdani, who is poised to become the Democratic nominee in New York's mayoral race, is facing a barrage of Islamophobic attacks from some Republican lawmakers and commentators, drawing condemnations from Muslim rights leaders. Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-Tennessee) referred to Mamdani as 'little muhammad' and wrote on social media this week that he 'needs to be DEPORTED.'
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Simplified: Why SIS won its Selangor fatwa challenge at Federal Court in 3-1 ruling
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — The Federal Court last Thursday in a 3-1 decision ruled that Selangor's 2014 fatwa could not be used against SIS Forum (Malaysia) as it is a company, which means the fatwa no longer labels it as 'sesat' or deviant from Islamic teachings. Want to know why and how the Federal Court came to this decision? Read on for a quick summary: But first, how does the Federal Court decision impact SIS? Selangor's 2014 fatwa said: SIS Forum (Malaysia) and any individual, organisation, institution with 'liberalism and religious pluralism' beliefs are 'deviant' from Islamic teachings; any publication with liberalism and religious pluralism elements should be banned and can be seized; the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) should block social sites that go against Islamic teachings and Islamic law; any individual who holds on to liberalism and religious pluralism beliefs should repent and return to Islam. Muslim women's rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS) operates through the company SIS Forum (Malaysia). Because of Selangor's fatwa, SIS was at risk of having its publications seized and its social media accounts blocked. Now, the Federal Court has decided that the Selangor fatwa does not apply to companies such as SIS Forum, and that the state-issued fatwa also cannot direct federal agencies to block social media accounts. The Federal Court made this decision through its majority ruling by three judges, while one judge disagreed. Here's a simplified summary which highlights some of the main points in the full 40-page majority judgment: Look, it's not about religion, but about the Federal Constitution and administrative law Although the SIS Forum court case involves a fatwa, the Federal Court said it was not making any decisions about Islamic beliefs, Islamic law or the religion. For example, the Federal Court made no comments on whether the Selangor fatwa was correct according to Islamic law, such as whether or not 'liberalism and religious pluralism beliefs are deviant from Islamic teachings'. Lawyers representing the Selangor fatwa council and Selangor Islamic religious council (Mais) hold a press conference at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya on June 29, 2025. — Picture by Choo Choy May . The Federal Court said this was because that phrase is an Islamic law matter, and that it would come under the jurisdiction of the Selangor fatwa committee and the Shariah courts. Instead, the Federal Court was looking at whether Selangor had acted within its powers under the Federal Constitution when it issued the fatwa. The three key points from the Federal Court's majority 1. Only the civil courts have powers to decide on Federal Constitution and judicial review SIS Forum's constitutional challenge was filed in the civil courts, and both the High Court and Court of Appeal previously said the Shariah courts should decide the case. After analysing the Federal Constitution's Article 121 and 121(1A) and based on a long list of past Federal Court decisions, the Federal Court made it clear that: only the civil courts can interpret the Federal Constitution's provisions and all laws (including state laws); the civil courts are the one with judicial review powers So the Federal Court was saying it could decide on this court 2. Can a company be treated as a 'person professing the religion of Islam'? The Federal Court said no. It said only individuals are able to 'profess' the religion of Islam, as companies cannot do things such as fasting in the Ramadan month or performing the Muslims' holy pilgrimage (hajj). Previously, the Federal Court had in two other cases in 1998 and 2022 also decided that companies cannot or are incapable of professing a religion. Why is this important? This is because the Federal Constitution gives states like Selangor the power to make laws on 'persons professing the religion of Islam'. That is why the Federal Court said Selangor's 2014 fatwa is only valid when it refers to individuals, and another part of the fatwa — which labelled SIS Forum, organisations and institutions as deviant — is invalid. 3. Directing federal bodies to take action goes beyond a state's powers Based on Malaysia's two federal laws (the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) and the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA)), it is the federal authorities that have the power to control publications. The Federal Court said the Selangor fatwa had clearly ordered the seizure of publications and also instructed federal body MCMC to take action on social media platforms. But Selangor had gone beyond the state's powers, as it was intruding into federal law and federal powers with such orders in the fatwa. The Federal Court confirmed Selangor does not have the power to include directives or orders — to the federal government's agencies — when the state makes fatwas. The Federal Court declared that these parts of the Selangor fatwa had gone against the two federal laws (PPPA and CMA). Sisters in Islam and its supporters celebrate after the Federal Court's decision at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, on June 20, 2025. — Picture by Choo Choy May Conclusion In other words, the Federal Court said only these two parts of the Selangor fatwa are still valid: Any individual who holds on to liberalism and religious pluralism beliefs are deviant from Islamic teachings, Any individual who holds on to liberalism and religious pluralism beliefs should repent and return to Islam. Read the full majority judgment here. What the dissenting Federal Court judge said The minority judgment's main point was that the Shariah courts are the ones that have the power to decide on the validity of a fatwa, and not the civil courts. The dissenting judge also gave his view that a fatwa can still be binding on companies especially in the SIS Forum case, and also said that the Shariah court should decide issues such as whether the Selangor fatwa had breached the two federal laws. Read the full minority judgment here. Recommended reading: •'Deviant' or not? Sisters in Islam awaits Federal Court verdict today on Selangor fatwa • Federal Court declares Selangor fatwa partially invalid, no more 'sesat' or deviant label for SIS
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Malaysia slams rise of Islamophobia at OIC meet, says it ‘becomes justification' for attacks on Muslims worldwide
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — Malaysia has expressed deep concern over the rise of Islamophobia, warning that normalisation of anti-Muslim sentiment is increasingly used to justify attacks against Muslims worldwide. Speaking at the 51st Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Istanbul, Turkiye, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said incidents of discrimination and attacks against Muslims have reached unprecedented levels. 'Normalised Islamophobia has become the main justification of Israel's crimes against Palestine and Iran, as well as of the persecution of Muslims in some countries,' he said while delivering Malaysia's national statement at the meeting yesterday. He urged for a strong partnership between the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia and the Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary-General, in focusing on promoting understanding across faiths, and fighting against bigotry. Mohamad also called on the international community to take stronger action against Israel's systemic atrocities on Palestine and its recent illegal aggression against Iran which resulted in the deaths of innocent Iranian civilians. He warned that the international community's inaction only lends substance to Israel's belief that it is immune from consequence. 'The UN Security Council's paralysis over Israel's atrocities is utterly embarrassing. There can be no peace without justice. 'The very notion of justice demands that we confront the ridiculous and impossible conditions being placed on Palestinian statehood,' he said. He said Malaysia remains steadfast in its solidarity with the Palestinian people, while urging the global community to exert all efforts to realise an independent State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital. 'We stand at a critical juncture. The OIC's relevance depends on the strength of our institutions, including the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC),' he added. He said the theme of the meeting 'The OIC in a Transforming World', has called for member states to advance peace, socio-economic development, and collectively tackle the multiple crises facing our world. On the IPHRC, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to the promotion of human rights, with an emphasis on economic, social, and cultural rights. Malaysia has been elected as a member of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the 2025—2028 term on the sidelines of the CFM meeting. 'These form the bedrock of sustainable development. By focusing on these areas, we can enable a resilient and enduring socio-economic growth. 'Malaysia stands ready to forge an enduring partnership that brings lasting benefit, and a more promising future for our Ummah,' he said. He also expressed confidence that Malaysia's representative to the IPHRC, Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Aishah Bidin, with her vast experience and valuable expertise — including in the realm of sustainable development — will make a meaningful contribution towards achieving this goal. Aishah will serve on the commission for the said term beginning this August, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry. The two-day CFM meeting was attended by over 40 foreign ministers from OIC's 57 member states, and representatives from 30 international organisations, underscoring the importance of the meeting in addressing urgent regional geopolitical situations. — Bernama
Arab News
31-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Pakistan voices concern over rise in Islamophobic incidents in India
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expresses grave concern over a rise in Islamophobic incidents across India, the Pakistani foreign office said on Saturday, following reports of attacks against Muslims. The reports of increasing attacks against Muslims and Kashmiris in India emerged after an April 22 attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam town that killed 26 people. New Delhi blamed the assault on Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. The attack triggered a four-day standoff between the neighbors this month that killed 70 people on both sides before a truce was announced on May 10. At least 184 anti-Muslim hate incidents, including murders, assaults, threats and vandalism, have been recorded countrywide in India, Indian media outlets quoted New Delhi-based Association for Protection of Civil Rights as saying this month. 'Pakistan calls upon the Government of India to uphold the rights and safety of all its citizens, regardless of faith,' Pakistani foreign office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said, adding that such incidents violate international human rights obligations and vitiate the prospects for communal harmony and regional stability. Bitter rivals India and Pakistan have fought three wars, including two over the disputed region of Kashmir, since gaining independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in its entirety but rule it in part. While a conflict between the neighbors feeding minority hatred on either side is not a new phenomenon, critics and rights bodies say Hindu right-wing groups have become emboldened in recent years due to a 'culture of impunity.' 'Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi likes to boast of India's democratic traditions, but it's become increasingly hard for him to hide his government's deepening crackdown on minorities and critics,' Meenakshi Ganguly, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in January this year. 'A decade of discriminatory policies and repression has weakened the rule of law and has restricted the economic and social rights of marginalized communities.'
