Indira claims Zakir Naik supporters helping ex-husband hide daughter

M Indira Gandhi's (photo) struggle to be reunited with her estranged daughter Prasana Diksa continues with a rights group today claiming to receive information that her ex-husband was receiving assistance from three groups that included supporters of controversial preacher Zakir Naik.

Indira Gandhi Action Team (Ingat) spokesperson Arun Doraisamy said she had lodged a report at Petaling Jaya police station this morning with the hope that an investigation will be carried out to verify the information that they received through public tip-offs.

"The police report lodged today was based on the latest information we received last week," Arun told a press conference with Indira at Wisma Hindu Sangam in Petaling Jaya.

Aside from Zakir's supporters, Indira in her report also alleged involvement by PAS-friendly NGOs and southern Thailand separatists in helping to shelter her ex-husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, who is wanted by the police.

"From 2009 until now we know there were PAS-friendly groups. Before I say this today, I thought about it a few times but I have to say it out loud.

"And now the new information we received, there are groups of Zakir Naik's followers. This too I thought a few times on how to say it," said Arun.

He claimed the help given to Riduan, who is said to be jobless, included monetary assistance as well as logistics aid.

As for the southern Thailand separatist groups, Arun claimed Ingat was informed that they had assisted Muhammad Ridhuan in leaving Kelantan and past the border, despite not having a valid passport.

"People have sighted him. But it’s a small village so people are reluctant to give (confirm) their identity," said Arun, adding that Ingat and Indira had presented all information they received to former inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun during a meeting at Bukit Aman on April 19.

"We had a sighting. If previously we were worried whether the child (Prasana) was still alive or not, now we are pretty much confident that she is," he added.

Despite police's failure to locate Riduan and enforce a court order for him to return Prasana to Indira, Arun claimed the groups are supporting Reduan’s movement from Kelantan to Golok, together with a new wife and their children.

Indira in her police report also urged authorities to investigate the 27-year-old woman for allegedly abetting Riduan, who had abducted Prasana a decade ago as an 11-month-old child and has not been seen since.

Both Arun and Indira today insisted that the case had gone beyond the issue of forced conversion.

"If she wants to continue her life as a Muslim, that is her choice.

"It does not matter whether she is Muslim or not, she (Prasana) is still her (Indira)'s daughter," said an emotional Arun.

Indira also teared up as she insisted that her only wish is to be reunited with Prasana.

Riduan took Prasana away and unilaterally converted his three children to Islam in 2009.

A lengthy legal battle between Riduan and Indira then ensued, involving both the syariah and civil courts.

Indira’s two eldest children now live with her, but Prasana and her father’s whereabouts remain unknown.

In February, Fuzi said information had not been forthcoming from the public, despite various appeals for help made by the police.

In 2014, the High Court issued an arrest warrant for Riduan but the police have yet to locate him.

Last year, the Federal Court unanimously declared the children’s unilateral conversion to Islam to be unlawful.

Did you bother to check? Ingat asks PAS on groups 'hiding' Indira's daughter

The Indra Gandhi Action Team (Ingat) has refused to budge over its claim that groups that are friendly to PAS have been helping to hide Indira Gandhi's daughter, who has been in the centre of a unilateral conversion and custody tussle.

This came after PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man yesterday denied the allegation and demanded an apology.

Ingat chairperson Arun Doraisamy, who had also claimed the involvement of preacher Zakir Naik and southern Thai separatist groups, said he would not withdraw his statement.

"Tuan Ibrahim got so defensive so fast before even asking us the justification (for our allegation).

"I doubt if he even tried to check on their NGOs within the state (PAS-led Kelantan) that is friendly to them or directly linked to them," he said in a statement today.

Arun claimed that Indira's daughter is presently studying in a non-registered religious school in Kelantan.

"Ingat would like to seek the cooperation of Kelantan state government to help us track the missing child to show they are sincere," he said.

Indira has been in a custody tussle with her ex-husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, who unilaterally converted her children to Islam and obtained custody of them through the Syariah courts.

This led to a lengthy legal battle between Riduan and Indira, involving both the syariah and civil courts.

Indira’s two eldest children now live with her, but the whereabouts of the youngest and her father remain unknown.

In 2014, the High Court issued an arrest warrant for Riduan but the police have yet to locate him.

'Deferment of law reforms further disrupts fate of spouses, children'

Gerakan has expressed disappointment that the federal government has decided to defer the tabling of the amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

The party’s law and human rights central bureau chief Baljit Singh said the bill was tabled last year and had been listed in the order paper for second reading at the just concluded Dewan Rakyat sitting.

“The fate of the spouses and children affected in cases of unilateral conversion and interfaith custody disputes remains uncertain following the bill being pushed back.

“The longstanding issues that have been hurting the society due to overlapping jurisdiction between civil and syariah courts must be addressed promptly and effectively to enable social recovery.

“The government had and must now reassure those seeking fairness and justice especially for non-Muslims, whose lives have been affected by unilateral conversions of their children,” Baljit said in a statement.

The state Gerakan Jelutong coordinator cited one of the most prominent cases involving M Indira Gandhi who is currently fighting a legal battle for custody of her youngest child. Her former husband had unilaterally converted their three children to Islam.

Baljit was referring to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who said the bill needs to be “refined” to ensure that it will not become polemical and affect the peace of the country.

Uphold and enforce 2009 decision

Baljit urged the government to uphold and enforce its decision on unilateral conversion made on April 22, 2009.

The decision states that there should be no unilateral conversion of children and that the children of parents where one parent chooses to convert to Islam must continue to be raised in the common religion at the time of the marriage, he said.

Baljit recalled in August last year, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had announced that the civil courts will have precedence in mediating divorce and child custody cases involving spouse who converts to Islam after marriage.

Najib had also reportedly said that it was a move in line with what Islam demands of Muslims.

“The amendments to the marriage law are the right thing to do and it is in line with the Federal Constitution. Changes to LRA will uphold Islam as a religion that advocates justice and fairness to all.

“All parties should understand that when observing the spirit of the amendment and refrain from any polemics,” said Baljit.

M'sian Bar dismayed over unilateral conversion reforms delay

The Malaysian Bar has expressed dismay over further delay in tabling the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Bill 2016 for a second reading at the Dewan Rakyat.

It urged the government to take all necessary steps to ensure that the bill is tabled and passed soon, in order to protect the interests of children.

“It is crucial that these amendments are brought to pass without delay, to prevent any further instances of unilateral conversion from occurring, as these are unjust, and cause turmoil and suffering for the parent and children affected,” Bar president George Varughese said in a statement today.

The highly anticipated bill is meant to resolve interfaith custody disputes, whereby an estranged parent unilaterally coverts him or herself and the children to Islam, and then claim custody of the children through the syariah courts.

Such interfaith custody battles had resulted in conflicting custody orders, where civil courts award custody of the children one parent, while the syariah courts award custody of the same children to the other parent.

The bill’s proposed amendments would allow the children to maintain their faith even if one of their parents converts, and may then freely choose their religion once they turn 18 years old.

The bill appeared on the Dewan Rakyat’s order paper yesterday, which was also the last day of the recent session. However, the tabling of the bill did not materialise.

Instead, only the PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's motion to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act was tabled.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the tabling of the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) (Amendment) Bill 2016 had been postponed because it needed further refinement.

The decision came after Hadi and Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria criticised the bill.

Hadi complained that the amendments would mean that a law governing civil marriages would have implications on the right of Muslims.

Harussani argued that the bill goes against a fatwa in 2009 which stated that underaged children would automatically be a Muslim convert if either of their parents embraced Islam.

How much longer, Hindu mum asks after law to ban child conversion deferred

Hindu mother M. Indira Gandhi today rued her long wait for “justice” after Putrajaya delayed amendments to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 meant to end unilateral conversions.

The amendment Bill did not emerge during yesterday’s Parliament sitting and was removed from the Order Paper today, meaning it will only resurface at the next session in July at the soonest.

Indira, who faced an eight-year ordeal after her three children were unilaterally converted to Islam by her ex-husband, expressed sadness and disappointment over the government’s decision.

“I was given the assurance that the Bill will be passed this time; I was hoping at least something will happen this time,” said an emotional Indira during a press conference at the media area in Parliament this morning.

Putrajaya, despite repeated promises, deferred the Bill despite extending Parliament hours for a record 20 hours until 5.05 am earlier today to pass a slew of other government bills.

The Bills were passed to pave way for PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s bill to increase Shariah Court sentencing.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said was quoted as saying by the Berita Harian newspaper that the LRA amendments were deferred following consultation with lawyers.

“The fate of my children is still uncertain. I need my justice, it’s already been eight years, how many more years do I have to wait?” she said.

Indira was accompanied by DAP’s Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, who is also her lawyer in her battle to reverse the unilateral conversion of her three children, and members from Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG).

Kula also criticised Putrajaya and government leaders for “misleading” them into believing the Bill would be tabled in this session, and demanded an explanation.

“This is a necessary bill for non-Muslims. Why are they preventing it?” he asked.

The amendment is facing resistance from Muslim lawmakers, lawyers and non-governmental organisations who contend that it was unconstitutional.