KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 — The government should punish Muslim youths for engaging in hedonistic activities and not for committing “jihad” or holy struggle, the local chapter of a hardline Islamist group said today.

In an article on its website, Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia criticised the authorities for taking legal action against a former student of a local institute of higher learning for supporting Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.

“Jihad is seen as the highest action by a Muslim and part of Islamic law with many strengths.

“So, why do we worry when youths are attracted to the call of Islamic law?” the group said.

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The group urged the government to instead pursue cases such as the three Malay girls who embraced popular Korean artists.

The article stressed that it was better for Muslim youths to embrace “jihad” and not participate in acts of “western hedonism” such as drug abuse, alcohol consumption and attending concerts.

The group’s Malaysian chapter also applauded the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for holding talks and seminars explaining jihad to university students in the country.

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Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia had previously called on Muslims leaders to threaten war on France over offensive caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad published by satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

The group claimed that declaring war is allowed by the holy scriptures when the prophet or Islam is insulted.