Sisters in Islam (SIS) today stressed that it is within their rights to challenge a fatwa by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) against it.

Responding to Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, SIS programme manager Suri Kempe said the NGO can take legal means as their fundamental liberties have been restricted.

"Surely we are legally entitled to challenge that which tries to restrict our constitutionally guaranteed fundamental liberties?" she asked.

She also sought an explanation from Azmin on what he meant when he said that the fatwa which bans the NGO for spreading "liberalism and pluralism" must be respected .

"With all due respect, what does it even mean to respect the fatwa?" Suri (right) said when contacted.

 

"Perhaps he can enlighten us on the definition of liberalism and pluralism," Suri added in a text message today.

She also questioned if SIS’ work in providing legal assistance and training to more than 4,000 Muslim women constitutes “liberalism and pluralism” and is therefore “deviant”.

SIS had filed a judicial review against the fatwa against the group gazetted in July.

Among others, the fatwa bars SIS from publishing anything including online.

The NGO named the Selangor Fatwa Council, Mais and the state government as respondents in its judicial review.