tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20130311.post6937303249290267215..comments2023-07-26T21:53:52.878+08:00Comments on SEAN-THE-MAN.blogspot.com: JAIS, Body Snatching, Conversion, Apostates and the Courtssean-the-manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015387695941406581noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20130311.post-48480457521043479162006-12-02T19:42:00.000+08:002006-12-02T19:42:00.000+08:00Rayappan to be buried as a Muslim
02 Dec 2006
V. ...Rayappan to be buried as a Muslim <br />02 Dec 2006<br />V. Shuman, Leslei Kevin, Rita Jong and Arman Ahmad <br />http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Saturday/National/20061202101411/Article/local1_html<br /><br />KUALA LUMPUR: Rayappan Anthony will be buried according to Muslim rites as he had converted in 1990.<br /><br />This was decided by the Shah Alam Syariah High Court which issued an ex-parte order to release his body to the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (MAIS).<br /><br />Syariah High Court judge Datuk Abu Zaky Mohammad granted the order to MAIS officer Juraish Kamaruddin after he produced supporting documents to prove the former van driver had embraced Islam.<br /><br /> The 55-minute proceedings was heard in chambers. <br /><br />But it is learnt that MAIS can only claim the body on Monday after it obtains an endorsement from the Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court.<br /><br />(This is because the order was issued in a different state. Every state is governed by different Syariah rules).<br /><br />Counsel for Rayappan’s family, A. Sivanesan, said the family will file a civil suit on the matter at the High Court in Wisma Denmark on Monday.<br /><br />A MAIS spokesman said the council was willing to allow Rayappan’s family to perform last rites according to the Catholic faith.<br /><br />"There have been previous cases on special request where the council allowed the family of deceased converts to perform last rites according to their own beliefs, provided they promised to surrender the body to us to be buried according to Muslim rites.<br /><br />"In Rayappan’s case, we are also open to negotiation," he said.<br /><br />Rayappan, 71, died at Kuala Lumpur Hospital at 4.30pm on Wednesday of complications from diabetes.<br /><br />He converted after marrying a Muslim as his second wife and was officially known as Muhamad Rayappan Abdullah.<br /><br />However, Rayappan returned to his first wife, M. Lourdesmary, 65, and his family, nine years later.<br /><br />His family claimed that he was a practising Catholic until the day he died.<br /><br />They claimed that Rayappan had returned to the Catholic faith as he had changed his name and renounced Islam by signing a "deed poll" with the National Registration Department (NRD) on May 10, 1999.<br /><br />In the deed poll, Rayappan had stated that he wished to renounce Islam and that he would be using the name "Rayappan Anthony" in all documents.<br /><br />Even the religious status in his Mykad stated he was a Christian.<br /><br />His family was prevented from claiming his body after Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) officials said that he would be buried a Muslim.<br /><br />It is learnt that his burial became an issue after one of Rayappan’s neighbours at Kampung Wardieburn, Setapak, alerted JAIS after his death.<br /><br />Rayappan’s family lodged a police report at the Setapak police station on Thursday. <br /><br />Meanwhile, an NRD spokesman said the department had no power to change the religion of a person, even if a deed poll had been submitted.<br /><br />A deed poll, she said, was usually used to change a person’s name.<br /><br />"This can be done by the person himself, without going to a commissioner for oaths. It is basically a letter which is just signed by the person," she said. <br /><br />She said the department was allowed to change particulars like a person’s name as this was allowed under the National Registration Act 1959 (Act 78 and Regulations). <br /><br />"Regulation 14 of this Act allows the change of names and correction of particulars," she said. <br /><br />The spokesman said the department had no power to change a person’s religion even if someone submitted a deed poll.<br /><br />She said the issue of a Muslim wanting to return to his original faith was in the hands of the respective Islamic religious authorities. <br /><br />"Once they approve the change, the religious authorities can inform the NRD," she said.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com