Tengku Maimun, who is set to retire in July when she turns 66, said this has led to malicious accusations being made against judges, with some accusing them of acting against Islamic principles.

She said this was why she often tried to touch on Islamic understanding with legal practitioners and members of the public whenever she met them, Berita Harian reported.

“When we talk about Islam, it’s all about justice. Islam does not teach us to judge someone based on their skin colour, religion or ethnicity. Social justice is paramount (in Islam).

“Some legal practitioners have criticised me for apparently not upholding Islamic law. In my view, they have misconstrued (my decisions) because of excessive sentiments (that have repeatedly been played up),” she was quoted as saying.

She said one of the most impactful cases she had presided over during her career was the unilateral conversion of M Indira Gandhi’s three children by her former husband.

Tengku Maimun was the dissenting judge on a three-member Court of Appeal panel which, in 2014, overturned a High Court order compelling the inspector-general of police to recover Indira’s youngest daughter, Prasana Diksa.

In 2016, the Federal Court reversed this ruling and instructed the IGP to execute the warrant of committal against Indira’s former husband after finding him guilty of contempt by refusing to hand over Prasana.

Tengku Maimun said she had been attacked by certain quarters for her views on the case, accusing her of not defending Islam.

“To me, there was no basis or justification in Islam, as I understand it, to deprive a child of her mother or a mother of her child. (But) I was then questioned by a person, who told me that when I decided on cases, I did not uphold Islamic principles.

“However, when I asked which principles of Islam we must uphold, I received no reply,” she said, according to NST.