YOURSAY 'What if a father forcefully takes away his son from a Muslim ex-wife?'

Islamic NGOs: Taking away son is 'not kidnap'

YUNoAnon: S Deepa's marriage was under civil law. The husband Izwan Abdullah's claim to custody via the Syariah Court does not overrule civil law.

So legally, she has custody. What Izwan has done (in forcibly taking away the son), in legal terms, is kidnapping.

To the Coalition of Islamic NGOs, please explain why you claim it is not kidnapping.

Baiyuensheng: The Seremban High Court has given the custodial rights to the mother - anyone who wishes to take the child needs the mother's permission. How can these so-called learned Muslim NGOs claim otherwise?

Onyourtoes: Common sense justice: in this case, the children were the product of a Hindu union and therefore we should allow the spouse who is still in that faith to decide the religion of their children.

The spouse who preferred to change his/her religion must forfeit his/her right; otherwise there would be no end to the arguments.

Moreover, religion may be abused to settle matrimonial disputes. The conversion may not be genuine which the religious authority must take cognisance.

This rule should be applied to all religions, including those who wish to convert out of Muslim faith (assuming we can do that in Malaysia), i.e. if one of the spouse of a Muslim couple has converted to another religion, the children must remain Muslims and live with the parent who still is Muslim.

Swipenter: My question is whether the cabinet's decision - that the conversion of minors from one religion to another needs the consent of both parents - is binding or not? Secondly, is the constitution still the supreme law in Bolehland?

From the words and actions of these Islamic NGOs, both the cabinet's decision and the constitution have no effect as long as you are a Muslim and you seek protection under the syariah laws.

If these Islamic NGOs want to play around with words, just play it yourself. Nobody is interested in your stupid games. In that case, I am 101 percent for the implementation of hudud and let the eye for an eye, life for a life syariah/hudud law apply exclusively to Muslims and leave us non-Muslims alone.

And is the PM and his cabinet dumb and deaf now on their decision made earlier? What sort of cabinet are we having now?

Bamboo: Committing a crime in the name of Islam is still a crime. These NGOs sully the name of Islam. Unfortunately they don't realise that and shamelessly spew perverted logic for the whole world to see.

Anonymous #70881335 : Not kidnap? Bollocks. What happens if a Hindu father forcefully takes away his son from a Muslim ex-wife?

All hell would break loose, I guarantee you that. And that's double standards.

Idon'tlikekangkung: So when a Muslim takes away his son, it is not kidnap. The other way around probably is. That sounds rather hypocritical, does it not? Where is the natural justice?

Tan Kim Keong: These NGOs are redefining the universal meaning of the word 'kidnap' to suit their own assertion. Kidnap means to steal or carry off by force.

That was what Izwan did to Deepa. He took the child under her custody by force. Justifying a wrong has nothing to do with religion at all.

Mob1900: Soon it will be 'taking your possession' instead of robbery, 'liberating your ability to breathe' instead of strangling or murder.

Anonymous #07910507: Some conclusions one can draw from this case based on what these Muslim NGOs are saying:

1) Forcible conversion of a child of another religion to Islam in a disputed divorce case is  acceptable behaviour amongst Muslims. 

2) The constitution of Malaysia; the highest law in the nation, is not "sacred" to Malaysian Muslims.

3) In a normal divorce case between Muslims, the mother is usually given custody of young children but in any case involving a Muslim and a non-Muslim only the Muslim party can get custody of the children.

4) Breaking the law of the land, harming your former wife, kidnapping a child; ignoring a court order, coercion, etc, are all acceptable as long as the Muslim individual gets what he wants.

5) Syariah law is the supreme law in Malaysia even when it is blatantly unjust.

Is this what these NGOs are saying?

Supercession: I can hear Umno and company (and that includes the Syariah Court) clapping their hands gleefully knowing that they have managed to manufacture yet another crisis with the hope of polarising Malays/Muslims and non-Malays/Muslims ties. I guess we're being taught this is all very "Islamic".

Speaking Sense: So now these NGOs have become legal experts. And just because you think what you are doing is not illegal makes it legal? So if I think it is not illegal to kidnap, steal or hurt or slap someone, then I can claim what I am doing is not illegal?

By the way, is my tax money being given to these NGOs too?

Surely police can act on assault and kidnapping

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .