SIS programme manager Norhayati Kaprawi said SIS had been involved in many women’s rights issues particularly among Muslims, and more recently, lobbied against discriminatory provisions to the latest amendments of the Islamic Family Law Bill. Downloaded from: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/59763
Malaysiakini.com
18th November 2006
SIS: We work for, not against, Islam
Wong Yeen Fern
Women’s group Sisters in Islam (SIS) has expressed disappointment that their work has been considered a ‘challenge to Islam’ at the Umno general assembly debates.
SIS programme manager Norhayati Kaprawi said SIS had been involved in many women’s rights issues particularly among Muslims, and more recently, lobbied against discriminatory provisions to the latest amendments of the Islamic Family Law Bill.
Other feathers in their cap includes:
• Lobbying for the Domestic Violence Act to be applicable to all Malaysians, including Muslims;
• Lobbying for Article 8 (2) of the Federal Constitution to include ‘gender’ as one of the grounds for prohibition of discrimination;
• Advocating for the right of Muslim women to sign forms for school registration, transfer of children, application of passports, giving consent to children’s surgery;
• Giving advise to the Syariah courts on womens rights to justice.
“Prior to that, Muslim women were denied those rights... So how can it be that SIS ‘challenges and tries to undermine the Syariah law?” said Norhayat in an email response to malaysiakini.
She was asked to comment on accusations by Umno Penang delegate Shahbudin Yahaya yesterday that the group had carried out activities against the Syariah legal system.
Cheap publicity
Shahbudin, who is both Permatang Berangan assemblyperson and Penang Islamic Council president, accused SIS of pointing out loopholes in the Syariah legal system and causing the public to cast doubts.
SIS was among the five groups that Shahbudin told the assembly was threatening the Islamic faith in Malaysia using Malays and Muslims.
Norhayati said SIS regrets that such sentiments being incited during the general assembly were used unfairly to discredit the works of groups that have upheld universal values of peace, tolerance and justice.
“These kinds of accusations are not new and it is perplexing how any effort to speak about justice in Islam is seen as ‘challenging Islam’.
“We are disappointed by the statements made by these ‘leaders’ who only seek to bolster public support by silencing the voices of women and religious minorities,” added Norhayati.
Norhayati believed that such statements made during the assembly did not tow the line set by the prime minister, which called for all Malaysians to be more introspective and proactive in upholding the values of tolerance and moderation.
“It is alarming that these statements (during the assembly) have taken on extremely chauvinistic and violent language,” she said.