Nurul denies supporting 'murtad'

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar has denied that her statement made last Saturday morning during a public forum encourages Muslims to renounce Islam.

“I do not accept nor encourage apostasy at all,” the Lembah Pantai MP said in a statement released last night.

“I stand by the general stance that after embracing Islam, a Muslim is subjected to syariah, just as a citizen is subjected to the federal constitution.

“I regret there are people trying to twist my statement as if I disparage the issue of faith or accept Muslims who choose to apostate,” she stressed.

Nurul was referring to her statement during a public forum on “Islamic State: Which version; Whose responsibility?” in Subang Jaya on Saturday morning.

She reportedly said that no one should be compelled to adopt a particular religion and that this applies to Malays as well.

Today, Malay daily Utusan Malaysia frontpaged Malaysiakini's report on Nurul's statement under the headline “Melayu bebas pilih agama? (Are Malays free to choose religion?)”.
Nurul Izzah said when she was answering a question during the forum, she made her response based on verse 256  Surah Al-Baqarah of the Quran, which states, “There is no compulsion in religion (Islam)”.

“This phrase covers all humankind,” she said.

“I pray that Allah will give insight and guidance to all, for the sake of peace and prosperity.”

'Nurul ignorant about Islam'

In a related development, Umno Young Ulama (Ilmu) working committee secretariat chairperson Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya also blasted Nurul Izzah, saying she was ignorant about Islam, Malay daily Berita Harian reported today.

“I believe she is ignorant to have made such a statement. Her statement clearly deviates from the maqasid syari’yyah (objectives of syariah) and can be considered as violating Islamic principles,”  Fathul Bari  said.

“I feel that she was speaking without enough religious knowledge. It will be more noble if she retracts her statement without distortion, for Allah is forgiving.”

He also said that her statement could give implications to Muslims in future not to uphold Islam and instead focus on ideological pluralism.

“Nurul should refer to PAS' ulama. In fact the opposition leader (Anwar Ibrahim) himself has constantly stressed on maqasid syari'yyah.”

Puteri Umno chief Rosnah Rashid Shirlin (above) shared Fathul’s view and said Nurul’s statement would cause unrest among the Muslims.

“Although there is firmness in place, there are Muslims who commit apostasy. The situation will be much worse if Malays are given absolute freedom in religion,” Rosnah said.