ICC Note:

Malaysia has reversed a decades-old policy that has made it difficult for Muslims to convert to Christianity. Under previous policy, people were only allowed to convert to Christianity when given permission by the Sharia Court. Government agencies even refused to change the religious classification on ID cards without permission from Sharia courts. Many welcome the new decision since Malaysia technically grants religious freedom under the Malaysia Agreement of 1963. In reality, however, religious freedoms have often been suppressed under a strong presence of Islamic law that is included in national policies.

12/27/2016 Malaysia (UCA News) – Christians and even a Muslim group have welcomed a court decision in Malaysia that has ruled conversions of children to Islam by one or both their parents are not permanent.

The decision by the High Court in Sarawak state last week knocked down a decadeslong government policy that has made it tough for converts to Islam to renounce the religion without the consent of an Islamic court.

The March 24 ruling is considered a landmark as conversion and apostasy in the predominantly Muslim country is viewed as sensitive.

The Association of Churches in Sarawak praised the decision as a ratification of the fundamental right to freedom of religion in Malaysia.

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