Former political and social activist Dr Kassim Ahmad was arrested at his home in Taman Kulim Perdana, Kedah yesterday, and will be charged in court today for insultin Islam.
Dr Kassim, 81, was detained by enforcement personnel from the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Deprtment (Jawi) and Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) at 12.30pm yesterday.
Dr Kassim, who was accompanied by his wife, was then brought to the Kulim district police headquarters to have his statement recorded.
He will be charged at the Shariah Court in Putrajaya today for two offences under the Shariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997.
Paimuzi Yahya, director of the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi), said the two offences were insulting Islam and violating the fatwa.
He said the first offence on Kassim was under Section 7 of the Shariah Criminal Act for allegedly uttering statements that might mislead Muslims, while the second offence is under Section 9 of the same act for violating fatwa or disrespecting religious authorities.
The charges against Kassim, who once headed the opposition party Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia, were over controversial statements he made at “The Thoughts of Kassim Ahmad: A Review”, a seminar recently organised on February 15 and 16 by the Perdana Leadership Foundation, of which former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the patron.
Story: Bernama
