The news I felt most moved today on Malaysiakini.com was the report about Lina Joy and her mother. I copy the full article below. (Lily)
‘Lina Joy's mother: Let me speak to her' by Fauwaz Abdul Aziz, Jul. 20, 07. 6:34 pm.
Kalthum Omar, the 71-year-old mother of Lina Joy is now hoping that certain quarters will not come between her and her daughter but allow them unimpeded access to speak to each other. “For those trying to influence her, we plead that you understand the suffering of Azalina’s mother and family members and not to obstruct relations between a mother and her child,” said Kalthum in a statement read out by her brother, Mat Kandar, at a press conference this morning.
Kalthum said the last time she spoke to her daughter was before she left on her umrah pilgrimage to Mecca last August.
Joy, who was Azalina Jailani before she converted to Christianity in 1998, is believed to be overseas and has not been in contact with any of her family members for nearly a year.
Last May, Joy’s nine-year effort to have her conversion recognised by the civil court was quashed by the country’s apex Federal Court. In a majority judgement, the court said Joy has to apply to the Syariah courts to be declared a non-Muslim.
Path pleasing to God
Kalthum’s sister Sabariah was also present with several family members and friends at the media conference which was organised by Islamic coalition Pembela. Apart from highlighting the break in communication between Joy and her mother, the press conference was also held to address claims that the family had accepted her decision to embrace Christianity.
“Truly there is nothing stronger than the bond of love between a mother and her child. In a mother’s pure bond of love, there is nothing higher than her wish that her child follow the path that is pleasing to God Almighty,” said Kalthum, shedding tears as the words were spoken. “Every Muslim surely hopes that every family member is united in the hereafter in God’s heaven,” she added. Kalthum said while she used to speak to and receive visits from Joy before she relocated to Sarawak last year, she has not heard from her daughter since. She was also informed that Joy’s lawyers do not know of her whereabouts too. When it was suggested that Joy may be reached through her lawyers, Kalthum said she had never tried to contact her daughter in that way. “Why should I have to go through a lawyer to speak to my daughter? What right does he have for me to speak through him?” she said.
Chairing the press confernce, Pembela head Yusri Mohamad said a lot of attention had so far focused on the suffering of Muslim - non-Muslim couples who are prevented by law from having their marriages recognised.
Different relationship
The case of Kalthum and her mother, however, illustrates the suffering of parents who are separated from their children due to the insistence of certain quarters to go against the Islamic and civil legal processes and regulations. “A root cause as to why such incidents occur is because some quarters do not want to abide by and recognise the steps and the relevant procedures that should be taken in relation to Muslim matters, particularly when it concerns marriage,” said Yusri (right). He urged Muslims and non-Muslims, including churches and temples, to abide by the rules and regulations. “We feel that, if from the beginning there had not been disrespect towards (family) relations, the going against of Islamic laws, the sensitivities and customs of the community, this would not have occurred,” said Yusri.
Speaking to reporters later, Kalthum said she would still accept her daughter if she came back to her family, although the relationship would be different on account of her apostasy from Islam. (End)
Conversion to Christianity can be problematic if the family members refuse to accept one's decision in any religion. Especially in Islam, it is most difficult to leave out of it to another religion, and it eventually prohibits anybody to do so.
I have also noticed in this case that not a single Christian leader had shown any concern for Lina Joy's mother and the other family members. Instead, they repeatedly claim for religious freedom enshrined in the Federal Constitution, and they did not seem to be interested in how her mother, especially, felt under pressure from the Muslim community in Malaysia. As far as I know on the website, the Malay newspaper like Utusan Malaysia reported her mother's statement for this case. Christian leaders must have taken a more considerate way for the Lina Joy's family unit and its linkage with relatives and neighbours, which is assumably rather dense.
What I have been most apprehensive is some severe repercussions from the Muslim Ummah in Malaysia.
