Announcing the fund today, activist Thomas Fann today said Farouk’s legal bills may total up to RM75,000, taking into account court filing charges as well as the fine he faces in the event he is charged and convicted under the Shariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997.
“We invite all Malaysians who wish to stand alongside Dr Farouk Musa and defend our fundamental freedom of speech and expression to donate generously. Freedom Fund will monitor the donation received,” said Wong Chin Huat who read the statement on behalf on Fann, during a press conference to show solidarity to Farouk and others whose works were recently banned by the Home Ministry.
In several government gazettes issued in the last two weeks, the government banned two books edited by Farouk, a collection of essays by novelist Faisal Tehrani and a book by PKR member Wan Ji Wan Husin.
The ministry also banned a book by prominent Turkish author Mustafa Akyol, “Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty”, and its Malay-language edition, “Islam Tanpa Keekstreman: Berhujah untuk Kebebasan”.
Farouk’s IRF hosted Akyol for a lecture tour in Kuala Lumpur last month. Both men were however summoned to appear before the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) who accused them of violating a requirement that speakers on the topic of Islam must have credentials, or tauliah, from the department.
Jawi subsequently arrested and questioned Akyol on Sept 25 as he prepared to board a flight at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), while Farouk was questioned for several hours last week.
Farouk, who is represented by lawyer Rosli Dahlan, is due to appear at the Syariah Court on Dec 4.
Farouk also plans to file judicial reviews to challenge the Jawi summonse as well as the government’s ban on his publications, and will be represented by Khoo Guan Huat.
Both Rosli and Khoo have offered their services without any fees.
“These judicial reviews are done for the good of all Malaysians,” said Fann, adding that Farouk has agreed to appoint Freedom Fund to handle the crowdsourcing campaign.
He said the fund would monitor the donation received will update on Facebook as well as on their website www.freedom-fund.info.
Contributions can be made in the name of FF Resources PLT at CIMB account number 8007518164.