PETALING JAYA, Jan 23 — Non-governmental Islamic group Sisters in Islam (SIS) wants Malaysia’s federal Islamic authority to stop its probe into Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman’s gender.
The group said the lengthy verification process by the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) on the popular entrepreneur is a “gross violation to the rights of an individual and disparages a person’s dignity as a human being”.
“Nur Sajat deserves to be regarded and treated with respect and dignity as a fellow Malaysian, just like any other,” SIS said in a statement today.
It questioned the need for a Shariah research panel to take at least one month to look into Nur Sajat’s gender identity and expressed concern that the probe may cause mental, emotional and even physical harm to the latter.
“We call upon all institutions and members of the public to check their own prejudices, intolerance, and fear-mongering against innocent individuals,” SIS said.
Jakim announced its scrutiny into Nur Sajat’s gender after a controversial blogger accused her of being a trans woman and made a complaint to the government about it.
Malaysia’s Islamic laws prohibit same-sex relationships and cross-dressing.
