Academician Kassim Ahmad's three-year predicament with the Federal Territory Islamic Department (Jawi) for allegedly insulting Islam and disobeying a fatwa is nearing an end.

This follows the Federal Court's three-member bench today unanimously dismissing the appeal by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, Jawi and its chief syariah prosecutor.

The apex court refused to grant permission to hear the merits of their appeal against the Court of Appeal's ruling that the arrest and prosecution of the 83-year-old academician was unlawful.

Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Richard Malanjum, who led the bench today, dismissed the questions of law raised by the authorities and the minister concerning jurisdiction and the arrest.