Malaysia's High Court To Hear Case On Jurisdiction Over Converts

Malaysia’s highest court, the Federal Court, announced on April 13 that it would hear a sensitive religious freedom case posing the question of whether a Sharia court must approve a Muslim’s conversion to Christianity, according to Friday’s Christian Post. Azlina Jailani converted to Christianity in 1998. The National Registration Department agreed to change her name on her identity card to her new Christian name, Lina Joy. However, it said it could not change her designated religion without permission from a Sharia court that has jurisdiction in civil and family matters over Muslims. This is preventing Ms. Joy from marrying a non-Muslim since the civil registry only marries those who are officially non-Muslim. Joy’s attorney argues that Malaysia’s Constitution does not require Islamic court approval to convert out of the Muslim faith.