KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — The ongoing debate over four Muslims dropped as beauty contestants recently is part of an attempt to divide followers of the faith, minister in charge of religious affairs Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom (picture) asserted today.

His remark follows another warning by the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (JAWI) director on Saturday that the growing number of challenges to Islamic canon may ultimately lead to disrespect of the law.

“Today there are major attempts in support of diversity that are dragging Muslims along,” Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir told reporters here.

“If we keep fighting endlessly, Muslims will never unite, and others will get braver in challenging.”

The recent spotlight on Islamic decrees by Malaysian authorities on its followers as well as non-Muslims has led to heated debate over their enforcement here, with some groups deeming certain provisions under religious law to be regressive while others have voiced concern over a worrying trend of overt Islamisation in a multicultural country.

Last week, Muslim women’s group Sisters in Islam (SIS) claimed that a 1996 fatwa, which deems Muslim participation in beauty pageants sinful, exists as an attempt to control the public conduct of Muslims in terms of dress and indecency, specifically Muslim women.

The group then questioned the relevance of the fatwa since beauty pageant organisers have now given an assurance that Muslim contestants will not be required to wear swimming costumes anymore.

“How, where and on what basis do the religious authorities draw the line as to what is indecent dress or indecent behaviour? Do long pants now fall in the category of ‘sinful’ and indecent attire?” the group asked.

Jamil Khir today stressed that the fatwa has never mentioned anything about clothes, and insisted that it is still haram (forbidden) for Muslims to join pageants no matter what they will be wearing.

“The Fatwa Council never mentioned clothes, it said that (participating in) beauty pageants is prohibited,” said the minister.

The fatwa on entering beauty pageants differs according to states, and not all states have gazetted it.

The 1996 fatwa is only binding in Federal Territories, and stated that it is haram and sinful for Muslims to enter or organise beauty pageants since it is haram according to Islam.

An earlier Sabah fatwa in 1986 stated that Muslims are prohibited from entering beauty pageants since it is haram for them to parade their beauty in front of someone who is not her husband.

Four Muslim women were dropped as contestants in the Miss Malaysia World 2013 pageant and are now under investigation for allegedly breaching the National Fatwa Council’s edict and allegedly insulting Islam.

Federal Territory syarie chief prosecutor Ibrahim Deris was quoted today as saying that action can be taken against anyone belittling a fatwa, even non-Muslims, as it could be seen as insulting Islam.

“For Muslim offenders, we will take action under the syariah criminal offences. For non-Muslims belittling the edict in public domains, we will lodge a police report for action to be taken under the existing civil laws such as the Sedition Act,” he said yesterday.