“I hate Islam even more now”.
That’s what Malaysiakini quoted Revathi as having said in its report, ‘Revathi, that’s my name – forever’.
Did anyone expect her to emerge from 180 days of rehabilitative detention proclaiming that she has discovered the beauty of Islam?
That she would thank the religious authorities for saving her from continuing in a relationship with the Hindu father of her child?
Yusri, if you do happen to read this, have you read her husband’s affidavit filed in the Shah Alam High Court, detailing how she was forced to eat beef whilst in detention?
Do you think that was Islamic, Yusri?
Why release her on the eve of the hearing of her husband’s habeas corpus application in the Shah Alam High Court? Afraid that the world will get to hear of what goes on in the rehab centres, eh?
And a 29 year old mother of 1 child ordered released into the custody of her parents? By what law is she denied her unconditional liberty?
And she is now expected to attend rehabilitation classes. What, in the hope that she may acquire a taste for beef?
Do the Malacca religious authorities now tail her to see if she goes to the temple or cohabits with Suresh?
And if she does, then what?
Another 180 days?
More beef?
It was also reported that the Syariah Court ordered that Revathi is not permitted to renounce Islam.
In ‘Anwar : Correct decision in Lina Joy’ reported some time back in Malaysiakini, Anwar is reported to have said that the Federal Court had correctly decided that the matter of renunciation lay with the Syariah Court.
Tell us then, Anwar, is her 180 days of detention and the ‘no renunciation’ order what you had in mind when, in March, 1998, you announced that a faith rehabilitation law would be soon passed?
Are you pleased with the decision of the Syariah Court, Anwar?
Pray, tell us.
To Revathi and Suresh, I pray that you will find peace and comfort in each other. I pray you will find the strength in yourselves to stand up to the injustices that may continue to come your way.
I pray that God will give us the strength to walk with you in your struggle for justice and the right to live in peace.
The People's Parliament 
Sathasevam Krishnan
July 7, 2007
Islam is supposed to be a good religion for the people,but misinterapption have left this religion a bad taste in the mouth of the non-muslims.
In Malaysia , ill-educated muslims are allowed to sit in high authority places and comes out with mind boggling ideas which we (non-muslms) find ridiculous and unaccepatable in this era.
How can they force Revathi or anyone for the matter to stick with their religion when they have specifically
denouce and spoke their mind.Is there no shame on them,forcing the person to accept something they don’t want. Why is Islam so intolerant? This act is a classic showcase of how negative Islam is practise in Malaysia.
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan is a muslim,everyone knows that, do you also know his wife Geetha is a Hindu?
There is no problem with that in India,imagine what will happen here in Malaysia.Mix marriage between Christians /Hindu/Buddhist are not a problem ,when one can go to either spouce place of worship but not for muslims. Its a pity as Islam is big enough to accomadate this practise but its not.
prometheus_bound
July 7, 2007
About a year ago, I represented a woman who had his adopted son detained by JAIS at a detention centre in Ulu Yam. My client was a Christian who converted to a Muslim. She had an adopted son, who is a Muslim. The boy lived with her and her family.
Initially my client financially contributed to the religious school, however when she found out some irregularities, she stopped funding the school.
Her problem thereafter started. The head of the religious school lodged a report to the local authorities claiming that she was trying to “convert” her adopted son to Christianity. Obviously that was a blatant lie.
The religious authority together with the police raided her house in the middle of the night, it was a party of about 20-30 people. They couldnt find a Bible, yet they insist that she was trying to convert the boy as a Christian. The boy was detained at a detention centre in Ulu Yam.
My client threatened legal action against the religious authority. A deal was brokered. The religious authority allowed me to visit the boy at the detention centre. The religious authority wanted to show that the boy wanted to stay at the detention centre voluntarily for an indefinate period of time.
It was heartbreaking. The boy was in fear. After reading Revathi’s story I remember vividly the look on the boy’s face.
The religious authorities need to be reined in.
Jeffrey
July 7, 2007
Wow, Anwar really said that? I never knew.
Guess he really is fishing for the conservative Malay vote.
yh
July 8, 2007
as the wishes by Haris, mine is the same. stand firm and both of you will find true happiness.
Littlebird
July 8, 2007
As a non muslim I can only see the love between mother and child, child and father and husband and wife.
Thank you for speaking on behalf of non muslims.
And about Anwar, did he always acted fairly when he was in power? I am ashamed to see a wife being separeted from the husband in the name of god who no man has seen in thousands years.
Red
July 8, 2007
Three matters in response.
1. It has occurred to Red whether you might mention Revathi’s case, especially since she said: “I hate Islam….” At another, philosophical level, her saying, “Revathi is my name” is very revealing into her strength of character. In that, she is nearly the exact match of Lina Joy; resolute, unbowed, clear in her heart, and in truly understanding that you don’t have to take your hat off to anyone if don’t wear any.
Red,
I could not agree with you more. If the rest of us had half her resolve and tenacity, this country might not be in the state it is in.
2. You once asked the question: To trust or not trust Anwar? On matters of individual faith, fundamental liberties and constitutional justice, you have now the answer although all that seemed pretty obvious, to Red at least. Hence, be careful with what you wish for: who to keep as MP, who to boot out. It is foolhardy, and logically fallacious for the purpose of protecting the constitution, to undercut a 2/3 BN majority by simply taking in anybody who is not BN. People like Joy, like us, are caught between the anvil and the hammer: this country is going to the dogs and that’s the literal truth.
Point well taken, Red.
In this respect, it is interesting that the DAP has refused to share with Anwar a common election manifesto. A few, a precious few, commentators have been hammering at DAP to be careful with PKR, especially with the likes of Ronnie Liu among their ranks and with PKR eager to curry favour with PAS. This goes to show that DAP leaders have been listening. But it is also an indication that the party suffers from an intellectual deficit.
3. Forget about Yusri. To have to coax, time and time again, the ilks of him to accept simply decencies is getting tiresome, very tiresome. We are on our own.
Best wishes.
P.S. Could you be so kind as to post the Suresh affidavit?
Let me get clearance on this.
A. Williams
July 8, 2007
Hi Haris,
Here’s an excerpt from the Sun newspaper:
“Later outside the courtroom, Revathi claimed the following took place at the centre:
not given medical attention when she was sick;
no proper food and was also forced to consume beef;
forced to wear headscarf;
not allowed to meet her 18-month-old daughter Diviya
Dharshini; and
threatened her “thali” (saffron coloured woven
thread or gold chain worn around the neck by Indian
women who are married) would be removed and forced
to embrace Islam.”
The mind boggles in trying to fathom the state of
mind of Revathi’s persecutors. How on earth they
expected Revathi to go back to their faith when they
demonstrated cruelty, only Heaven knows.
If only they had the humanity to put themselves in
her shoes. What would they have done had the roles
been reversed – if they had been forced to eat
pork, carry the kavadi, worship a Hindu deity.
To want to win Ravathi “to the right path” through
brute force, humiliation,threats, mental torture etc
is nothing else but sheer stupidity. There is no
other conclusion I can draw about the quality of
their grey matter because of their behaviour.
Guess who needs to go through rehabilitation to restore back their humanity? Not Revathi, for sure. She has the courage to stand by her convictions. May she be vindicated someday.
Paul Warren
July 8, 2007
Revathi is such an inspiration to us all and puts me to shame my cowardice writing here annonymously. That picture of her in Malaysiakini shows true grit in the face of adversaries very few Malaysians have faced. That she too is lending her name to truely cause a dent in defining what Islam Hadhari is must surely be something Abdullah Badawi should take note of.
Abdullah Badawi has brandished Islam Hadhari, giving his own definition as to what it is. Just like Communism, which Karl Marx must have thought he had given the world the last word as to what it really is, Islam Hadhari will finally be defined by all the goings on within the Muslim Ummah today and the shenanigans pursued by the Ullama and the various Islamic Institutions. Mahathir dismissed Islam Hadhari as a non-entity. Badawi pursues it. The religious authorities are now giving it definition. Badawi’s silence and non-interference acquiesces and lends authority to the mould being prepared as to what Islam Hadhari is.
Yes, Lina Joy, Revathi and a whole host of others have contributed towards shaping and giving definition to what Islam Hadhari is. Karl Marx can scream any amount he wants about the sanctity of what he had written about communism in its purest form. But today we all know that we see communism today as how and what it is by the definitions given through the actions of Lenin, Stalin, Mao and a whole lot of other Communist despots!
Does Badawi even know that his sacred Islam Hadhari is only now begining to take shape and it is something for us all to fear than to feel comforted in or about? I doubt it!
The Islamic Instituions, the Shariah Courts and the authorites at the Ulu Yam Rehabilitation Centre have casued a big black eye to Islam. They have brought a tremendous shame upon Islam such that a woman who has been unwillingly been subjected to all of their authority casts such labels upon Islam and issues such scorn upon them. Any healing of the wounds she has now subjected Islam in Malaysia to can only be rectified by the authroities showing remorse for their actions and letting her go!
J Sharmini
July 8, 2007
Is this what Malaysia has become ? A theocratic “democracy” ?
With all these issues here, what right has the government to accuse the West of waging war against Islam; when it’s Islam which is ,has been & will always wage wars against the non-muslims ?
A woman separated from her husband & a mother separated from her 18-month baby. Is this Islam Hadhari ? A woman forced to do things against her chosen religious belief. Is this Islam Hadhari ? A woman mentally tortured to embrace a religion she rejects. Is this Islam Hadhari ? A wife & a mother forced to live with her parents, forbidden to live with her husband & baby. Is this Islam Hadhari ? If Islam Hadhari is all this and more; then I REJECT ISLAM HADHARI as a creation of a theocratic government, trying to cover-up religious persecution of non-muslims in this country.
We are a persecuted lot, and we should forge together & fight this great injustice, forced upon us, in the name of a religion whose adherents are well known world-wide for their violence, extremism, non-tolerence & bigotry.
Booi Kheng
July 8, 2007
Revathi can you be really free?! That is the question hanging in the air for every Malaysian who value the fundammental right as a human being as long as religious freedom is concerned .
I have something to add after having read the comments posted by many sentient readers of this forum,as this not the first time such things happened and are expected to continue the episode for as long as political structure and reality remain ,and politic is is interpreted to the whip and fancy of those holding religious authority to interpret and enforce as tool to power.
I see the point of if average Malaysians are resolute and brave to stand up to safeguard their rights in choosing their faith ,but average Malaysians are known to be resolute only in abiding by the decision or ruling of the authority ,when come to intangible rights ,or chose to be the silience majority (probably they or we still uphold the value of silence is gold ),as long as life is still tolerable and that is a way to make ends meet ;or just make some noice in between and chose to forget and forgive over times.
History and tradition hold hands in hands in shaping the common destiny of Malaysian(still holding ture?) ,in this era of globalization ,looking forwards, were average Malaysian a little brave and adventurous to breakaway from the “comfort zone” to explore the uncharted teritory lying ahead of us ,after gone thru the tunnel,in search of faraway and indespensible light for 37 years.
Its a question of now or never to change the direction of history and thus our common faith in this wonderful land,the political will is on us !
Krishnad
July 8, 2007
This article is thought provoking and absorbing. Revathi ‘s courage,faith in her husband /child plus sheer determination has been the telling factor in her journey. It is undeplorable attitude of religious dept/rehab centre who are fanatics than the real learned ones.I didnt believe in Anwar when he was in power,then to believe in him now.How could one forget the Penang incident on the Masjid/Temple and what he uttered.
AAB’s hadhari is being hijack by the ultras and the dumb PM hAS LOST CONTROL.There is clashes between local educated Malays and the ones who studied in Pakistan and Middle East. The Middle East ones projecting themselves as superior than the local ones and copying the middle east culture on wholesome.
Billy
July 8, 2007
I suggest that many of the bloggers here read this article “Pakistani Christians Told To Convert Or Face Death” which can be found on:
http://the-malaysian.blogspot.com
And yet they say, there is no compulsion in Islam. So who is telling the truth and who is telling the lie?
Nurhaliza
July 8, 2007
Revathi i always support you.
Dr
July 8, 2007
Dear readers.
Supprised muslim in malaysia behaving like this.
Did the quran teach you all like this. what a shame!!.
Did you are all(mislim) happy now to see a mother seperated from her beloved child and husband.
All this laws are created by human being not by the god/allah it self. As you all says allah is “penyanyang” so it that true now!!!
Whatever happen revathi is always will be Hindu.
Temasek Man
July 8, 2007
Revathi,can you be really free? Well,I am really sad & sick to learn the robot-like & intolerant,communist-like behaviour of JAIS officials.I can’t read their mind.
The Islam that I used to know when I was a child or now is totally different.Here,the JAIS officials or islamic scholars think Islam is the ultimate religion & look down on other religions.Why I stressed it ?Just look at their behaviour,atitude & conversations,you can know the answer.They mentioned freedom to practice any religion except Islam.You can convert to Islam but not vice-versa.Is this religion freedom ?If you can’t enjoy the love,happiness & peace from a particular religion you embraced,why force yourself ? For Islam,I I am very doubtful.
Here,I do not wish to offend muslims but have a second thought,and you will know what I mean.I wish wise-thinking Muslims to speak-up.
All the best to love-loving human beings.
Cheers !
G Walter
July 8, 2007
We salute people like Reevathi and Lina Joy. The Islamic authorities in Malaysia have certainly tainted the religion and make it no better than fascism and communism. It is high time that the syariah’s wings and clipped and the country return to its pre-1969 position as a secular nation. All Muslims wanting to quit their religion should be allowed to do so. Let the cases of Reevathi, Lina Joy and others be highlighted to the international media so that pressure can be exerted on the hated Islamic authorities not to make miseries of lives of people who have been unfortunate to be born Muslims and HAVE NO WISH to profess that religion!
c
July 8, 2007
Pls any learned muslim out there, tell me if Revathi is truly a person professing the muslim faith and hence can be subjected to the Syariah courts?
As I understand, there cannot be a muslim child, only a child of muslim parent, as the conditions to profess the muslim faith has not been met.
Mamak Baginda
July 8, 2007
If you are a Muslim in Malaysia (the country’s may be celebrating it’s 50 yrs of independence, but its muslim citizens are apparently not!)you cannot be a vegetarian in order to be a healthy & compassionate individual? Do you have the religious body going round and see what the muslims eat? I know of instances where they watch what the muslims drink!
lulu
July 8, 2007
haris,
i wish the normal everyday muslims in malaysia would speak up on this.
why do they choose to remain silent?
are the authorities right in doing what they did and people like you and i are wrong in our thinking? their silence seems to support this.
Pegasus
July 8, 2007
In this life and era,where we spent our short life on earth,why can’t we enjoy to live happily with fellow humans,family,relatives and friends before we depart from earth.
I salute Revathi,Lina Joy and others who are in the same predicament.What a shame Islam has brought to the religion in Malaysia.Islam itself is not at fault,its the way it is practise and uphold by the ill-learned muslims and over learned muslims here. How and why do you force someone to accept your religion when they have
say they don’t want it. Why do the muslim authourities stoop so low to force this.
If Islam is a great religion as profess,then people of other religion will be lining up in droves to convert themselves to be muslims,you don’t have to force them,but the islam practise in Malaysia is simply mind boggling.Islam Hadhari?
I wish Revathi,Lina Joy and all others in this matter to be strong and never give up to stand for your rights.May Gods Bless you all.
Brown Superman
July 9, 2007
Just saying that Islam is a religion of peace, there is no compulsion in Islam, islam practises freedom, the worshipped god is compassionate and merciful, it is a religion for all era, etc etc is not enough. The practice of the religion should speak those up.
I already have a different opinion of the religion, after reading some of the verses in their books. These actions in Malaysia and other countries are tending to confirm my thoughts.
When Parameswara, the ruler of then Melaka converted, was he just shown the cream of the cake or was he fully aware of the actual contents? This question is still ringing in my mind.
What is the need for for stopping non believers from leaving the cult? Are they worried the “army” will shrink in numbers?, or there will be non left to pray when the azan is called? Are they worried that the non believers will speak of their experiences and that there will be no new brothers and sisters flocking into the faith?
On one hand they say that among others, Abaham, Moses and Jesus are prophets of the religion but on the other, they hate to see the activities of the followers of these prophets. In Pakistan, the christians are forced to convert into a more recent religion. Of course, there is no recognition given by muslims, to the even more recent one: The Bahai faith.
Worse still, every of the the two main factions claim that theirs is the true one; between Shias and Sunnis. Then we hear of the main schools of thoughts within sunnis: Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki and Hambali. If it is based on the thoughts of interpreters, how original could it be?
Then there are those who believe in the stone representing god (as found in the Cube) and those who don’t. Forget about the stone representing the devil, for time being. Yet muslims condemn stone and idol worshipping of other cults.
With all these, why think others should not have the right to practise their chosen faith?
Sorry, if my write offends (it is/was never intended) but let us look objectively.
Ida Bakar
July 9, 2007
Dear readers,
I am ashamed by what had happened to Revathi. She is Malaysian just like Lina Joy, Joshua Jamaludin, Ayah Pin and his wife. For those Malays and Malaysian Muslims out there – don’t realised that when rights of fellow Malaysians are trampled on, it is a matter of time before the Islamo-fascists trample on yours. Already muslim women of Malaysia don the headscarf in ever greater numbers; conformist society is easy to manage.
As for Anwar, he is an opportunist. He tried to gain political capital by supporting the decision against Lina Joy. Ignore him. He does not deserve your support, let alone the oxygen of publicity.
monysan
July 9, 2007
Bravo Haris…nanti di akhirat awak akan bangun berhadapan dengan Allah bersama revathi dan suaminya dan semua yang menyokong kamu dibelakang…bravo..bravo…bravo….
Saya lebih selesa bersama Revathi ketika berhadapan Tuhan Maha Pengampun daripada disekutukan dengan pegawai-pegawai pusat pemulihan Hulu Yam
Farida
July 9, 2007
When the religious authorities decided Revathi must follow their dictates and not the convictions of her heart, they are in actual fact saying:
1. “We own you, Revathi. We own your body. We give
your body only a certain space within which to
live and operate and that space cannot in any way
touch the space your husband inhabits. He is hands
off to you and you are hands off to him.You must
ignore your physical desire for your husband and
put that desire to death. That longing is only
allowed if your husband agrees to become a
Muslim.”
2. “We own you, Revathi. We own your heart and your
emotions. You cannot love your husband and down
the years you must let that love die. You say he
is good to you, that he cherishes and takes care
of you and Divina? That cannot be. Impossible! He
is not a Muslim.”
3. “We own you,Revathi. We own your will. You no
longer have the right to choose because you do not
want to make the right choice and that is to do it
our way.”
4. “We own, Revathi. We own your mind. From now on,
you must only think ‘Islam’, do ‘Islam’ and
live ‘Islam’. Any other thought is forbidden to
you and you will face worse than what you went
through should you dare to think differently.”
5. “We own you, Revathi. We own your spirit. If you
continue to be spirited about your stand, we will
break your spirit, we will hold it captive until
you obey us.
“For we know better than you the life you led
as a child. We know better than you the
experiences you had as a teenager and a young
adult. We know better than you your aspirations
and dreams. We know better than you how your life
is to be lived from now on. You don’t. As a Hindu,
you never will. We do, because we are the only
right religious authority in Malaysia. Everyone
else is wrong.
“So live, Revathi, in accordance with our
dictates – OR NOT LIVE!”
lulu
July 9, 2007
anwar seems to have forgotten the statement he made post lina joy.
“I believe that such a matter must remain within the jurisdiction of the syariah courts and whether or not such a renunciation is appropriate is a matter for the syariah courts to decide.”
in his statement to malaysiakini today,
“Revathi Masoosai’s wish to be considered a Hindu should be respected by Islamic religious authorities”, said PKR’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.
what changed? maybe the direction the wind blows.
let’s trust him? nah…., probably like you, i’d rather trust snow white’s evil step-mother. at least she was consistent.
https://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/lets-
trust-him/
ko-chi
July 9, 2007
Haris, Anwar was reported in Malaysiakini today to have said that Revathi’s wish should be respected since she has gone through the “procedure”. So, your valid question to him seems to have been answered. But whether people will take him at face value will depend very much on the individual.
I would really like to listen to what those who oppose the freedom of faith for ex-muslims would have to say now about Revathi. they keep insisting that “apostates” need to follow the procedure…to not “cut queue” so to speak. clearly Revathi has done that, and yet she is told that she cannot renounce islam even after 180 harrowing days?
walski69
July 10, 2007
A law unto themselves… that’s how I see the Islamic departments and bureaucracies in this once great nation. And if anyone’s ever read Syed Ali Akbar’s second book, chances are you’d agree with me that the tragedy that is the Revathi case, coupled with the recent harassment (the most accurate description of what happened) of Siti Noor Idayu, Lina Joy, and the countless other incidents, Malaysia is skipping merrily down the path towards failed statehood.
Give them an inch, and they’ll want 10 feet… it’s time to speak up. The more these hooligans get away with what they’re doing, the worse and more emboldened they’re gonna get. And Harris, I applaud what you are doing, bro.
*p.s. to answer ur question… any time and any place for a cuppa, mate!
mac
July 10, 2007
Poooooooooooooooodah. Go to India la.
And why don’t you crawl back into that hole that you emerged from
dmathews
July 10, 2007
It saddens me to read today that our Prime Minister was dismissive of the damning allegations of abuse in rehab centres. Would it be too much to expect an investigation or an expression of concern from him? Or are our politicians more concerned about the greater harm to society occasioned by delinquent companies who in defiance of the law have their signages in italics and not in romanised text? Mr PM,its time for a reality check. Granted you may blissfully blinded by new found love at the moment, but please do not be blinkered. The the freedom to profess the faith of her choice which the one you now embrace availved herself to (and by extension which now ‘enables’ you to be with her) is no freedom at all and is illusory. Please Mr PM, do not dismiss these allegations as wild or baseless. Have an independent investigation launched immediately just as was done when faced with allegations of police brutality.
joehancl
July 10, 2007
Lets hope and pray more clear thinking and compassionate muslims will come forward together lobby(whatever) the govt. to be clear thinking and compassionate. And in the process glorify Islam.
fatimah jaan
July 12, 2007
Saya sebagai seorang indian muslim sugguh malu and kecewa bila mendengar perkara sebegini berlaku di malaysia walaupun malay’sia penghuninya adalah berbagai kaum,bangsa dan dengan pengujung dari berbagai negara.
Ini telah mencemarkan nama malaysia sebagai ugama islam adalah sebuah ugama yang mempaksa/mempentingkan diri/tiada perikemanusiaan dan manghancurkan sebuah keluarga yang bahagia dengan mangatakan ( its muslim law).
Undang-undang adalah dibuat oleh manusia dan bukan nya turun dari allah. Kalau allah turun mesti dia sedih dengan sikap orang tertentu (yg muslim) di malaysia
yang memperjuangkan nama islam untuk menghancurkan sebuah keluarga. Ini ke beauty of islam. Saya kesal menjadi seorang muslim. Mungkin suatu hari nanti saya , mungkin ramai lagi orang akan menyesal dah cuba untuk keluar dari ugama islam. Kalau nama kita kekal melayu tetapi kita ikut ajaran agama lain tanpa pengetahunan apa mereka nak buat..? Seperti di kolej budak islam ada yang tak puasa ,buat perkara dilarang agama seperti kena tangkap basah,pakai tudung tapi tapi pusat nampak, pakai baju kurung tapi peha nampak, nampakkan body shape, tudung tapi rambut nampak.. dating dengan budak banga lain..dan macam2. Patut tangkap mereka dulu dan ajarkan ajaran islam yang betul.
Tiada dimana-mana negara lain yang mengamalkan undang2 seperti disini. Mungkin suatu hari nanti sesiapa yang berkawan dengan orang islam akan ditangkap di masukkan untuk diajarkan ajaran islam. Dan akan mengatakan ah memang undang2 patut diikuti….
Bagi PM kita dan bekas timbalan PM kita:
i always respect your decision and mereka akan sentiasa akan disegani dan akan mengharumkan nama malaysia yang diduduki oleh berbagai kaum dan agama.
Untuk revathi: jangan berputus asa.. ” be revathi forever.