This follows the Federal Territories shariah prosecutor’s office having not ordered any prosecution yet against Farouk for allegedly abetting in the offence of teaching Islam without “tauliah” (credential).
Farouk and Turkish writer Mustafa Akyol were called in to meet the Federal Territory Islamic Department (Jawi) on Sept 25 over a forum at which Akyol had spoken.
Akyol was detained the same day by immigration officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) before he was able to board a flight to Europe. He was held for 18 hours.
He was subsequently freed and allowed to go off.
In a letter dated Nov 20 to Farouk’s lawyer Rosli Dahlan, chief shariah prosecutor Ibrahim Deris said he had not ordered any charges against the think tank chief yet.
“The investigation papers have not been presented to me,” Ibrahim said, referring to the Jawi.
However the shariah prosecutor’s office did not clarify whether Farouk has to appear before the Shariah Court today to face the charge or to appear at Jawi.
It was reported previously that Farouk had been served a summon to appear at the Shariah Court on Dec 4 to face a charge related to abetment on teaching Islam without “tauliah”.
Rosli had earlier written to Jawi and the chief prosecutor to clarify if the shariah prosecutor’s office is no longer under Jawi.
The shariah prosecutor’s office subsequently replied that they are now known as the Federal Territories shariah prosecution department (Japens), and the department is under the administration of the Prime Minister’s Department.
“The prosecution unit in Jawi no longer exist,” Ibrahim said in a Nov 13 letter.
In a letter on Nov 17, Rosli had sought explanation and relevant documents from the shariah prosecutor’s office on why Jawi served Farouk a summon to appear before the court, when investigations were still on-going.
“Jawi may have made a mistake because Farouk is not the person who organised Akyol’s visit here. The visit was in fact hosted by Farouk’s think tank and a few NGOs,” he said.
Also a translated version of Akyol’s book, “Islam Tanpa Keekstreman: Berhujah Untuk Kebebasan”, published by IRF, was banned by the government on the grounds it is likely to be prejudicial to public order as well as to alarm public opinion.
IRF had last month filed a legal challenge in the civil court over the government’s decision to ban Akyol’s book and two other books they had published.
The group is also seeking a declaration that the ban made under the Printing Presses and Publication Act (PPPA) was invalid, and went against provisions in the Federal Constitution.
Activists launch fund drive to help IRF chief fight Jawi, book ban