We, the undersigned civil society
organisations and individuals, register our gravest concern and strongest
objection to a series of crackdowns on intellectuals from September 25 to
October 3.
These include the arrest of Turkish writer
Mustafa Akyol, the harassment and persecution of Akyol’s host, Dr Farouk Musa
of Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) and the banning of 22 books, including
discursive writings by Akyol, Farouk Musa, scholar Faisal Tehrani (Dr. Mohd
Faizal Musa) and cleric Ustaz Wan Ji Wan Hussin.
“Religious teaching without tauliah [proper
accreditation]” (Section 11 of Act 559 in this case) is a Syariah offense
normally reserved for errant preachers in mosques and surau.
