Malaysian Court Upholds Rule Limiting Syariah Law Practice To Muslims

In Malaysia yesterday, the High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) upheld the requirement that only Muslims can practice as Syariah lawyers. The Star reports on the decision which upholds Rule 10 of the Peguam Syarie Rules 1993. Victoria Jayaseele Martin, a non-Muslim woman who earned a Diploma in Syariah Law and Practice in 2004 from the International Islamic University Malaysia, challenged the requirement imposed by the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur's Islamic Religious Council that only Muslims can be admitted to practice before its Syariah Court. (See prior posting.) In yesterday's decision, Justice Rohana Yusuf concluded that: "The requirement (for a Syarie lawyer to be) of Muslim faith is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of legal representation." Martin's lawyers plan to appeal the decision.