KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 ― A local Muslim actress and model voiced indignation today over the forced removal of a church cross by a group of Muslims in Petaling Jaya, and extended an apology on their behalf to “my Christian sisters and brothers”.
Wardina Safiyyah, who now resides in Australia, also expressed hope that the church in Taman Medan would not take down its cross.
“I hope the cross stays there. #letthecrossstay Please don't take it down,” the tudung-clad actress wrote on her Facebook page.
“My heart goes out to my Christian brothers and sisters. I am so sorry that you are being bullied by my fellow Muslims,” she added.
Wardina went on to point out that Muslims, since centuries ago during the time of Prophet Muhammad, have always lived harmoniously with the Christians.
She said she even believes that Christians are the closest to Muslims.
“I sincerely with all my heart love my Christian sisters and brothers,” she added.
Explaining, Wardina said she understands how it feels to be a minority and to be bullied by others because of the faith she professes.
She said in Australia, every time a non-Muslim voices support for Muslims, she feels grateful and thankful.
“It means a lot,” she said. “I hope we lend our support to the Christians when some of 'us' treats them with such harshness.”
“The cross is their symbol of faith. Leave it there. Leave them alone.”
Wardina urged Muslims to drop a flower at the doorstep of the church in a gesture of support after the Sunday incident.
She said Muslims have no reason to fear the cross, as only vampires are afraid of such symbols.
“Let the Christians worship freely. The Prophet pbuh says 'Kindness makes things beautiful, while violence renders them defective',” she said.
During a protest on Sunday, a group of about 50 residents of Taman Medan gathered outside a church in their neighbourhood to demand that it remove the cross it had hung on its facade.
The protesters, who were seen liaising with the church leaders through Umno branch leader Datuk Abdullah Abu Bakar, reportedly claimed that the cross, a religious symbol to Christians, was a challenge to the area's Malay-Muslim majority and could influence the young.
Abdullah, who was later revealed to be the brother of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, has since insisted that he had not been leading the protest but was merely acting as mediator between the group and the church.
