PUTRAJAYA: A Hindu mother who today won her legal challenge at the Federal Court on the validity of the unilateral conversion of her three children is urging her Muslim convert ex-husband to return her youngest child.
M.Indira Ghandi, 43, when met outside the court said there was no more excuse for Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, 48, to run away from his responsibilities.
"There is this ruling now and there is no more excuse. He (Riduan) has to act now. He cannot run away from this," she said.
While expressing joy and gratitude over the landmark ruling, Indira was still however downhearted as she had not seen her daughter Prasana Diksa, 9, who has been residing with Riduan for nine years.
She said the fact that she could not share this moment with her daughter was the saddest part for her although she was happy with the Federal Court's decision.
"The nine-year legal battle has finally paid off. I am very happy and there are a lot of people I would like to thank. They stood by me and we have gone through so much for the past nine years.
"I am missing my daughter. Please, if it is possible I really need to hold her in my arms," she said, trying to hold back her tears.
Indira said her two elder children Tevy Darshiny, 21, and Karan Dinish, 20, who were not present in court, were waiting for the decision and she could not wait to break to them the news.
"I have been fighting for this because of my children," she told reporters.
The Federal Court today ruled that the unilateral conversion of Indira's three children to Islam was invalid.
A five-man bench led by Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin in a unanimous decision held that consent of both parents must be obtained before a certificate of conversion to Islam could be issued in respect of the child.
The court also found that the Registrar of Muallaf had no jurisdiction to issue the certificates of conversion in respect of the conversion of the three children due to non-compliance of Sections 96 and 106(b) of the Perak Enactment.