SHAH ALAM: Former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin is expected to be charged at the Gombak Syariah Court tomorrow with giving a religious lecture without certification.
Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) assistant director for public relations and publications Mohd Hidayat Abdul Rani said the department had completed its investigations.
Asri was arrested on Nov 1 at a bungalow in Taman Sri Ukay, Hulu Klang, for giving a religious speech without certification from Jais but was freed on police bond without being charged.
Earlier, the Selangor assembly rejected an emergency motion to order Jais to immediately release Asri without any condition and to drop all charges against him.
Speaker Teng Chang Khim rejected the emergency motion tabled by Hulu Klang assemblyman Saari Sungib as he did not find it urgent and it did not have to be expedited.
"I agree that the motion is of public interest but it does not meet other requirements for it to be expedited.
"Therefore, I reject the motion."
The arrest of the Islamic scholar was met with an outcry from many of his supporters and drew criticism and questions from various quarters, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.