PETALING JAYA, July 24 — The four Muslim contestants dropped from Miss Malaysia World 2013 are now the subject of a Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (JAWI) probe for allegedly insulting Islam.

Its director, Datuk Che Mat Che Ali, said the investigation would be carried out based on Section 7 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997.

“As a religious enforcement agency, JAWI will conduct further investigation if there is sufficient evidence and testimony,” Che Mat was quoted as saying by national news agency Bernama.

“The prosecution will be carried out against those involved in the Syariah Court,” he added.

The four were dropped from the pageant during the weekend after JAWI spoke out against their presence in the contest.

According to Federal Territories Mufti Datuk Wan Zahidi Wan Teh previously, a fatwa (edict) prohibiting Muslim women from joining beauty pageants was issued and gazetted under the Federal Territories Islamic Administration Act in February 1996.

One of the contestants, Wafa Johanna de Korte, told the Mingguan Malaysia newspaper on Sunday that the decision to drop them was unnecessary as other Muslim countries like Indonesia allows Muslim women to participate in pageants.

“In the beginning, the other Muslim contestants and I were happy that we were picked as finalists because we could represent our country in this prestigious event.

“However, after the organisers disqualified us, what else can I say. I am so disappointed and saddened,” the 19 year old was quoted as saying.

It now appears that it was statements of such nature, rather than their participation in the pageant, that has landed the four in JAWI’s bad books.

“Thus, the statement (about being disappointed with the fatwa) is deemed to have insulted Islam,” Che Mat explained.

If convicted, the four could each face a fine of up to RM3,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.

In recent years, the National Fatwa Council, the country’s highest Islamic body, had also issued rulings forbidding Muslims from using Botox and banned women from exhibiting tomboy behaviour, which it defined as behaving or dressing like men or taking part in lesbian sex.

The council came under heavy scrutiny for its proposal to ban yoga after a university lecturer advised people to stop practising it for fear that it could deviate from the teachings of Islam.

The move was met with protests from progressive Muslim women’s groups like Sisters In Islam who deemed the fatwas regressive while observers claimed it highlighted the worrying trend of overt Islamisation in Malaysia.