Sacrilegious act by journalist
The Catholic Lawyers’ Society Kuala Lumpur expresses dismay over the recent article appearing in the May issue of Al-Islam entitled Tinjauan Al Islam Dalam Gereja — Mencari Kesahihan remaja Melayu Murtad in a statement signed by President Mabel Sebastian on July 21.
“The article written by Muhd Ridhwan Abdul Jalil @ Erwanz, displays utmost disrespect to the Catholic community when he admitted consuming Holy Communion and photographing the sacred specie. Although a police report has been lodged, no charges have yet been brought against the writer, the editor or even the publishers of the magazine.
“There has been to date no sign of remorse or apology from the writer, editor and/or publishers of Al Islam for the intrusion, violation and defilement of the most sacred element of the Catholic faith.
“The Catholic Lawyers’ Society call on the authorities to expedite their investigations and haul up those responsible to Court as a deterrent so that no other religious institution will be subjected to such similar sacrilegious acts by other individuals.
“Section 295 of the Penal Code states that it is an offence, “to defile, damage or destroy any object held sacred by any class of persons, with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons, or with the knowledge that any class of persons is likely to consider such destruction, damage, or defilement as an insult to their religion…”
