Marina Mahathir questions need to interrogate Kassim Ahmad until 4am

(The Rakyat Post) – Social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir today lashed out at the way former political and social activist Dr Kassim Ahmad was charged by religious authorities.

“It’s so cruel and unfair. They (authorities) had questioned the elderly man until 4am, what is that?

“They even wanted to have him remanded for a week, I don’t think that is the best solution,” she tearfully told reporters at the Syariah High Court here today.

Marina appeared in the court today as Kassim’s surety after the court agreed to a bail with one surety on condition that the guarantor resides in the Federal Territory.

Kassim, when asked to comment on the conditions set by the court, said the existing law should be changed because it is difficult for the accused to find a guarantor.

“The system needs to be changed. A guarantor must reside in the Federal Territory?

“This law is trivial and stupid. The conditions are ridiculous. We cannot continue to live in a stupid system like this.”

In a related matter, the Sunnah Wal Jamaah Association of Malaysia (Aswaja) has shown its support to the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) for arresting Kassim, who is believed to have sown anti-Hadith sentiments in the country.

Aswaja’s president Zamihan Mat Zin said the ideology of Kassim had been deemed as deviant by some states as it may lead to apostasy.

“Aswaja gives full support to the arrest and charges made by Jawi because Kassim’s ideology is clearly against the teachings of Islam and is upsetting to the Muslims in the country,” he said in a statement.

“Aswaja supports the arrest that was done in a “civilised” manner and followed protocol.”

Zamihan said that his group once had a meeting with Kassim to persuade him to repent and return to the true path of Islam, but he remained defiant and continued to defend his anti-Hadith leanings.