Lina Joy
Lina Joy (born 28. July 1964 in Malaysia as Azlina Jailani ) is a Malaysian Konvertitin that from Islam to Christianity has converted. Their conversion and the incidents recorded in this context led to an increasing discussion about apostasy and religious freedom in Malaysia.
Life
Lina Joy was born to Muslim parents of Javanese origin. She converted when she was 26 years old. She was baptized in 1998 . She then tried to have her transfer legalized by the Malaysian court. Although her name change was recognized in 1999 and her identity card changed, her religious affiliation was not changed in her papers. The reason for this was the fact that she was unable to submit a document that the relevant Sharia court had approved her conversion .
According to the Malaysian constitution, "freedom of belief" is expressly given. However, an amendment to the constitution in 1988 stipulated that religious matters could not be decided by secular courts, but instead fell solely within the jurisdiction of Sharia courts . Since, however, according to classical Islamic legal tradition, leaving Islam is regarded as an apostasy , the Sharia courts usually refuse these permits. Lina Joy then attempted to get approval from the Supreme Court in 1999 and Federal Court approval in 2006. Lina Joy had to go into hiding because she was threatened after her case became known.
On May 30, 2007, the federal court denied her appeal. The verdict stated that someone could only change their religion according to the rules of their previous religion. She could only choose another religion if the Sharia court agreed with her conversion.
Recognizing her desire to officially change her religion would also enable her to marry her Christian fiancé. While Muslim men are allowed to marry Jewish and Christian women, Muslim women are not allowed to marry non-Muslim men.
Lina Joy is currently living in Australia as a refugee.
Web links
- Verdict against religious freedom NZZ, May 31, 2007
- Malaysia: Prayer initiative for Lina Joy, the ZENIT who converted from Islam to Christianity, June 27, 2006
- Country Reports Religious Freedom Malaysia Missio, May 31, 2007
- "Lina Joy ruling the 'next change', says chief justice" , New Straits Times , April 12, 2007
- Court decides Shariah trumps Catholic baptismal certificate The Becket Fund For Religious Liberty, 2005
- Media statement on the Lina Joy decision from PEMBELA (The Muslim Organizations in Defense of Islam), May 30, 2007
- All eyes on Lina Joy case The Star, June 25, 2007
Individual evidence
- ↑ AsiaNews.it: MALAYSIA Lina Joy affair sparks apostasy debate among Muslims. Retrieved October 28, 2017 .
- ^ The Star: Commission to study religious-sensitive cases. Retrieved October 28, 2017 .
- ↑ Jürgen Kremb: Death Threats in Paradise , Der Spiegel , July 24, 2007
- ^ The New York Times: Once Muslim, Now Christian and Caught in the Courts. Retrieved October 28, 2017 .
- ↑ AsiaNews.it: MALAYSIA Poster calling for death of lawyer involved in the Lina Joy case. Retrieved October 28, 2017 .
- ↑ Reuters: Malaysia's Lina Joy loses Islam conversion case. Retrieved October 28, 2017 .
- ^ Forum-Asia, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development: Malaysia: No Joy for Lina «FORUM-ASIA. Retrieved October 28, 2017 .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Joy, Lina |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Jailani, Azlina (maiden name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Malaysian convert |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 28, 1964 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Malaysia |