Kassim takes fight to civil court
He applies for a judicial review over the Syariah case against him
Ng Suzhen, Free Malaysia Today
Scholar Kassim Ahmad today applied for a judicial review of actions against him over remarks he made in a seminar last February that the authorities allege were insulting to Islam.
The respondents are the Malaysian Government, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom, the Federal Territories Religious Department and Federal Territories Chief Syariah Prosecutor Ibrahim Deris.
The application, filed with the civil court authorities, follows the failure of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Jamil Khir and Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir to respond to a letter telling them to intervene in the interest of preserving the dignity of Muslims and Malaysia’s “good name”.
The letter, dated June 13, said Kassim’s lawyers would proceed with the judicial review application if a favourable response was not received by June 23. It was signed by lawyer Rosli Dahlan.
This is the second time that the controversial scholar is filing a judicial review application over the case. The first application had apparently been withdrawn by the time the June 13 letter was sent out.
According to another of Kassim’s lawyers, Abdullah Khubayb, “amicable solutions” were offered with the first application.
“There has been no response from the relevant parties in the matter, prompting us to take a stronger stand this time,” Abdullah said after filing today’s application.
“No news regarding the withdrawal of the Syariah charges against Kassim has been heard.”
