The Syariah Courts are fully empowered under the law to deny a Muslim-born woman from leaving Islam and embracing Buddhism and Confucianism, a federal counsel submitted.

Sallehuddin Md Ali, who appeared for the government, also told the Kuala Lumpur High Court (civil court) that the 32-year-old woman cannot seek its assistance to permit the apostasy.

The government lawyer was submitting during the hearing of the woman’s application for leave to initiate judicial review against the Syariah Courts’ refusal to permit her to renounce Islam.

On March 4, she...