Freedom Fund – Malaysia

DEFEND DR FAROUK MUSA, DEFEND FREEDOM OF SPEECH & THOUGHT

Posted on October 9, 2017 Updated on October 9, 2017

Press Statement from Freedom Fund – 9^th October, 2017

DEFEND DR FAROUK MUSA, DEFEND FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THOUGHT

On the 2nd of October, 2017, Dr Farouk Musa, the Chairman of Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), was served with a notice that he has to appear in the Syariah Court on 4th December 2017 to face a charge for abettment. The charge sheet has not been served on Dr Farouk but it is believed to be connected to IRF’s invitation to the Turkish writer Mustafa Akyol for participating at book launches and academic forums. It is believed that the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAWI). JAWI considers Dr Farouk to have abetted “religious teaching without tauliah (proper accreditation)” under Section 43 Act 559 of the Shariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997.

IRF had organised a series of talks for Akyol who is internationally known as an Islamic voice of moderation, promotion of inter-faith harmony and defender of democracy. Akyol has written the book, “Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty”, which was translated into Malay “Islam Tanpa Keekstreman: Berhujah Untuk Kebebasan”. Without notice to IRF, these books together with a list of other books by progressive voices, including several by Dr Farouk Musa, have now been banned by the Home Minister. Akyol was arrested when he was about to return to the US on the 25th of September and detained for 17 hours before he could leave.

Charging Dr Farouk under the Shariah law for abetment in organising intellectual discourses in a university and other private venues is an attempt at control our thoughts and is a violation of our rights under the Federal Constitution to freedom of speech and expression under Article 10(1)(a). Such repressive actions reminds us of darker chapters in human history where literature deemed “subversive” are burned and people labelled “dissidents” are killed. Such barbaric actions have no place in the 21st century and in a country like Malaysia that aspires to be a moderate and progressive nation.

Dr Farouk is now required to defend himself against the charge of abetment under Section 43 of the Shariah Offences (FT) Act which carries a fine of up to RM5,000 and/or 3 years imprisonment. On top of that, Dr Farouk will have to take two Judicial Reviews to challenge the constitutionality of JAWI’s action in charging him and to challenge the legality of the Home Minister’s decision to ban the list of books without giving specific reasons. These Judicial Reviews are done for the good of all Malaysians.

Dr Farouk has agreed to appoint Freedom Fund to handle the crowd-sourcing for the needed fund to facilitate in his defense and the defense of our fundamental liberty.

As a matter of policy, Freedom Fund do not pay for legal fees of lawyers but only filing fees and disbursements/expenses incurred.  It is our understanding that the lawyers who are acting for Dr Farouk, Rosli Dahlan of Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill and Khoo Guan Huat of Skrine & Co., are doing this Pro Bono (free). The total estimated cost of paying the fine should Dr Farouk be found guilty is RM5,000 and the total filing fees and disbursements for defending Dr Farouk in the Syariah court and both Judicial Reviews can be up to RM65,000, making the total required to be RM70,000.

We invite all Malaysians who wish to stand alongside Dr Farouk Musa and defend our fundamental freedom of speech and expression to donate generously. Freedom Fund will monitor the donation received and once we have reached our targeted amount, we will issue a public statement on our Facebook page (@MyFreedomFund), our website (www.freedom-fund.info) and e-mail if you have notified us of your deposit.

The bank details of Freedom Fund are:
Beneficiary : FF Resources PLT
Bank : CIMB
Account number : 8007518164
Swift Code : CIBBMYKL
Notification e-mail : FFResourcesPLT@gmail.com
Please reference : Farouk Musa

STATEMENT ISSUED BY Thomas Fann, on Behalf of the Freedom Fund Working Committee