Please refer to the previous posting of‘Lily's Room' dated 19 February 2010. (Lily)
1. UCAN (http://www.ucanews.com)
ML08939.1590
No further police action in host defilement case, 25 February 2010
PENANG, Malaysia (UCAN) — A Catholic layman has expressed outrage at the refusal of the Malaysian police to pursue action against two Muslim journalists who allegedly defiled Holy Communion in two churches.
Police said recently that the six-month-old case was referred to the deputy attorney general, who advised “no further action.”
The police response was received on Feb. 23 by Sudhagaran Stanley, one of two laymen from Penang who filed a complaint on July 8 against the Malay-language Al-Islam magazine.
The monthly reported in its May 2009 issue that two Muslim journalists went into Catholic churches in Kuala Lumpur, received Holy Communion, spat out the hosts, and then took photos of them.
“We totally reject this response. We want the two journalists to be charged” under the law for “causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will on grounds of religion,” Stanley said after receiving the police reply. “[Can] anybody enter a church, defile it and get away with it?”
Speaking to UCA News, Stanley insisted “there is some political reason behind the police response.” He vowed to organize a peaceful protest following consultations with lawyers.
On Feb. 3 Stanley went to police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to get a progress report on the case.
Earlier, on Jan. 20, he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak complaining about police inaction.
Catholics share Stanley’s dismay but some have cautioned against taking assertive action.
Vijay Kumar of Kuala Lumpur described the two journalists’ actions as “blatantly seditious and inexcusable”. He further said “it is pointless having laws that are not enforced or enforced selectively”.
Steven Sim of Penang agreed. “The law of the country must be upheld without prejudice,” he said. But he also insisted on a Christian response — “that we offer forgiveness”.
A priest who refused to be named suggested the Christian Federation of Malaysia or an interreligious body take up the case. “I feel that Christians should be seen to be united, especially on such a sensitive matter.”
Another priest said “The right way is to educate people on sensitive religious issues [so that] people can learn about and respect each others’ religions.” He cautioned against organizing a protest, saying it may cause Christians to be labeled extremist, a view shared by a number of lay Catholics. They told UCA News that pursuing the case further would be counter-productive.
2. Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com)
No action against Al-Islam activists, say AG chambers, 25 February 2010
Due to overwhelming pressure from the general public, the Dang Wangi police district headquarters revealed yesterday that charges against two Al-Islam journalists, who entered a Catholic church in Ipoh, have been dropped.
The duo allegedly took part in the ritual of holy communion and entered the church to check out a claim that Muslims were being converted to Christianity.
They were charged under Section 298A (1) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion.
In a letter to the complainant, senior investigating officer ASP Ananthan Rajoo stated that the Attorney-General chambers had decided not to press charges against them.
"We referred this case to the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) and we received orders from them to take no further action (NFA)," stated the letter, dated Feb 12.
Complainant K Sudhagaran Stanley, who had lodged the police report in June last year, expressed disappointment.
"We are deeply hurt and our rights to freely worship has been violated.
"We are pressing for this charges to be placed not because of revenge, but because we want this country to be ruled by law, that people will respect the faith of others, that Malaysians will now that they cant just go and humiliate the beliefs of others and get away with it.
"This reply from the Government sends a wrong signal down to Malaysians. We will see more of such cases in the future if we don't stand up for our rights now," he said via email.
He added that a mass peaceful protest will be organised soon, in protest of the decision made by the AG Chambers.
(End)
