SIS present postcards against book banning to Ministry

On 9 Dec 2008 I joined a group from Sisters in Islam, as well as other NGOs to deliver almost 1000 protest postcards to the Ministry of Home Affairs at Putra Jaya.

These postcards are in protest at book banning in Malaysia. The campaign was set up by SIS after 2 books were banned in Aug, and taken from the bookshops without any warning or explanation. One book is by Prof. Norani Othman and published by Sisters in Islam, and had been on sale for 3 years before being banned.

the boxes of postcards

 

namecards

It was hoped to hand the postcards and poster directly to the Minister Syed Hamid Albar, but he sent his Under Secretary, Che Din, to receive us.

Che Din



poster



See my album SIS forum on book banning.
See also Sharon Bakar's blog NGO's Protest Book Banning in Malaysia Dec 10 2008 and also her blog entry 20 Aug 2008.
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THE STAR

Wednesday December 10, 2008
NGOs protest against book ban with 1,000 signed postcards


PUTRAJAYA: A group of 10 non-governmental organisations including Sisters in Islam, Suaram and representatives from the Bar Council handed some 1,000 postcards protesting against the banning of books to the Home Ministry here.

SIS senior programme manager Maria Chin Abdullah said the postcards were collected from September and bore the signatures of people voicing their protest over the ban.

“We are concerned because the guidelines leading to the ban of books are vague and the decision by the Government is often arbitrary. Some of the banned books have also been published and widely sold in stores for some time but then, the Government decides to confiscate them.

“Similarly, we didn’t even know the books were banned until we read about it in the newspapers,” she told reporters here yesterday, pointing to a book published by SIS — Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism — as an example.

“We want the ministry to call for a consultation with all the parties involved in the publication of books to resolve this matter. Banning books has a negative effect on information and intellectual development,” she pointed out.

Maria said the non-governmental bodies also wanted to know if writers would be compensated for losses suffered when their books are damaged or destroyed in the confiscation process.

The SIS book was edited by Prof Norani Othman from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, who was also present.
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© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

Sisters in Islam on book banning

Sisters In Islam (SIS) organised a forum for August 19 2008, to protest the issue of book banning in Malaysia. They invited all friends, academicians and supporters to attend the press conference.

On 14 August 2008, the Malaysia media organisations announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs had banned two books, namely, "Pelik Tapi Benar Dalam Solat" (Strange but True Elements in Solat Prayers) by Ustaz Abdul Rahman Mohamed, published by Telaga Biru Sdn Bhd, and another "Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism" by Norani Othman and published by Sisters in Islam, Petaling Jaya and printed by Vinlin Press, Bandar Baru, Seri Petaling.

The only vague reason given was the book "contains twisted facts on Islam that could undermine the faith of Muslims". It came with a prohibition order under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and if any individuals found to be in possession, do reprints, or distribute the publications will be jailed not more than three years or fine not more than RM 20,000 or both.

There was no communication with SIS prior to the media announcement. The book was actually published in 2005 and has been widely distributed in many countries. So why the sudden ban.

The forum discussed the banning of books by the Ministry, and one of the main concerns was the fact that no clear reasons are given, instead just a standard letter is issued.

Also as Malaysia celebrates its 51st Merkdeka, or Independence, it seems ironic that many books are still banned, suggesting the population are still too immature after 51 years to decide what they can and cannot read. It is time to change the media laws.

Another issue was that Islam discriminates against women, and social attitudes limit the legal rights of Islamic women in many countries. SIS want to see a modern Islam, with a gentle, friendly and civil attitude to women.

The forum was attended by about 60 people and presented a good case about book banning in Malaysia.

Book banning = book burning

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Update Jan 26 2010


Court lifts ban on SIS book

STAR:
The High Court lifted a Home Minister’s ban of a book entitled Muslim Women and the Challenges of Islamic Extremism.

Justice Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof ruled that the 215-page book was not a threat to public order in a judicial review application by Sisters in Islam (SIS) Forum (Malaysia).
In his grounds, Justice Mohamad Ariff held that only seven of the 215 pages were said to have offended the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) guidelines.

Among other things, the department had voiced concern that the book had the tendency to confuse Muslims with shallow knowledge of the religion because the writers had written the articles based on their own views.

“Is this public order reason? I think not. I fail to find the objective evidence to support facts,” said Justice Mohamad Ariff yesterday.
Reception desk -

the banned book cover

Marina Mahahir

See blog on SIS present postcards against book banning.
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© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission