Mosques Will Aid Malaysian State Officials In Syariah Enforcement

In Malaysia, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has issued authority letters to more than 370 mosques authorizing 4 leaders in each mosque to aid the government in enforcing the Selangor Syariah Crimes Enactment 1995. Yesterday's Malay Mail reports that the mosque officials were given authority to note information about any Muslim found drinking alcohol in public and to hand them over to police or religious enforcement officers. Datuk Dr Hassan Ali, the Selangor executive councillor in charge of religion, said that mosque officials will soon be given the additional power to arrest Muslims for selling and storing alcoholic beverages, and for being "disrespectful" during Ramadan.