Threats to kill, beat up ‘touch a dog’ organiser surface online
Anisah Shukry & Lee Shi-Ian, TMI
After receiving accolades from many Malaysians over his charity work, Syed Azmi Alhabshi has now become the subject of death threats and accusations of apostasy by countless fellow Muslim-Malays online.
The Malays, furious at his audacity in organising an event to educate the public on Islam’s stance on dogs, have circulated his mobile number online, while on WhatsApp, messages claiming he is a Christian in disguise have spread like wildfire.
Once easily reachable through his phone or Facebook, Syed Azmi has now gone virtually underground, but on Facebook, his friends, family and neighbours in Taman Tun Dr Ismail have been responding to the threats on his behalf.
However, the threats, most of them posted as comments to a Facebook post by Ustaz Mohd Kazim Elias, which condemned the event, are numerous and filled with hate.
“Saya dgn pandangan ustaz dan saya rasa penganjur ni jenis buta hati dan cetek ugama dan suka merosakkan ugama dan patut rejam sampai mati. He he,” said Ghas Ku.
(I agree with the ustaz and believe this organiser cannot differentiate between what is right and wrong, has a shallow understanding of religion and likes to destroy Islam and should be stoned to death.)
Ustaz Mohd Kazim Elias, who condemned the ‘I want to touch a dog’ event, has seen his Facebook page filled with numerous hate messages for the organiser. – Facebook pic, October 22, 2014.
“Meh sini aku bagi sedas pelempang baru ada akal sikit penganjur tu,” said Hafizzulnaim Haji Samsuddin.
(Let me give the organiser a beating so that he can gain some reason.)
Another Facebook user, Yusoff Hj Ashaari, said that on top of taking action against Syed Azmi, the public should find the women who posed with the dogs at the event, and pull of their scarves to see if they wore crucifixes or were concealing tattoos.
“Ustaz, this organiser really is a dog,” said Han Khalief.
In his Facebook post, the ustaz had accused the programme of being a subtle attempt to introduce “liberal” and “pluralistic” ideas among Muslims, adding that it would give way to campaigns on touching and eating pigs.
The event, which was held on Sunday in Bandar Utama, proved to be very popular with about 1,000 people participating, and learning compassion for dogs as well as Islam’s views on the canines.
Many who came took the opportunity to touch and pet the dogs of various breeds, including chow chow, husky, German Shepherd and poodle, brought to the event by their owners.
Volunteers at the event also demonstrated how the cleansing process, called sertu or samak which involves washing the affected area six times with clean water and once with earth, was done.
However, many Malays – clerics and ordinary citizens alike – took offence at photos of Muslims petting and holding the dogs.
On popular Malay blog Sirap Limau, Internet user Salsaparila wrote: “Memang celaka bangsat penganjur sial ni. Yang datang pun bodoh bangang takde otak punya orang. Harap2 nanti mamat sial ni mati la kena gigit anjing.”
(This organiser really is damned, nasty, and accursed. Those who attended are stupid and without any brains. I hope this cursed person dies from dog bite.)
A WhatsApp message purportedly from the Putrajaya Religious Council has also been circulating.
