“The language is very broad,” he said referring to Section 11 of the Shariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997. “It gives government agencies broad powers to control discussion on anything relating to Islam.
“This can only be a hindrance to any intellectual discourse. It is an affront to academic freedom and an affront to freedom of expression,” Azmi told a press conference today to show solidarity to Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) director, Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa who is facing a charge of violating the same law.
The section states that it is an offence for any person who teaches or professes to teach any matter relating to the religion of Islam without a tauliah (accreditation).
Azmi said the word “teaching” in the section, and the part stating that “any matter relating to the religion of Islam”, were not clearly defined.
“What is teaching? It is not defined. Is discussion teaching? Not defined. What do you mean by ‘any matter relating to the religion of Islam’?
“For example, if you are a teacher in a law faculty and teaching Islamic law, does that mean you cannot do that without proper credentials?“ he asked.
Azmi said that accreditation is granted by a religious teaching supervisory committee under Section 96 of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Act 1993.
The committee, which is appointed by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council, consists of a chairman and at least three persons with appropriate experience, knowledge and expertise.
It is empowered to grant accreditation for the purpose of teaching on any aspect of Islam and to withdraw such accreditation.
“The requirements and other matters relating to the granting of accreditation are totally at their discretion, and who they exempt from accreditation,” he said.
The Federal Territory Islamic Department (Jawi) recently summoned Turkish scholar Mustafa Akyol for questioning for allegedly “teaching Islam without credentials”.
Akyol was on the final day of his Malaysian lecture tour organised by IRF, when he was arrested on Sept 25 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and questioned by Jawi.
Farouk was also questioned for allegedly abetting Akyol.
Farouk, who is represented by lawyer Rosli Dahlan, is due to appear at the Shariah Court on Dec 4. He plans to apply for a judicial review to challenge the Jawi summons as well as the government’s ban on his publications.