07/13/2022 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) – The High Court of Malaysia has dismissed the bid of a woman who wanted to renounce Islam legally. The Court stated that civil courts did not have the jurisdiction to hear such cases.  

Malaysia, which is officially secular but has a majority-Muslim population, has shariah courts that hear and decide on matters about Islam. Judge Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid said the Federal Constitution had given power under Article 121(1A) to the shariah courts to determine renunciation cases. 

The woman, who was born a Muslim, sought to renounce Islam at the Shariah High Court in 2018, saying that she wanted to practice Buddhism. The court denied her application to renounce Islam in 2020 after ordering her to attend 12 counseling sessions.  

She appealed the ruling, and the Shariah Appeals Court upheld the ruling. The woman then turned to the civil courts to nullify the decisions of the shariah courts. She claimed the decision to reject her “conversion out” application violated Article 11, which guaranteed a person’s freedom of religion. 

High Court Judge Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid said that the shariah courts did nothing wrong in rejecting the woman’s bid to renounce Islam. He cited Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution, which gives power to the shariah courts to determine renunciation cases.  

For interviews, please contact: [email protected]