KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyers for Liberty has expressed concern with the recent incident in Terengganu where six men, including three teenagers, were sentenced to one month in prison and fined for skipping Friday prayers.
In a statement, its legal coordinator Zaid Malek urged the Minister for Islamic Affairs Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa to look into the matter and resolve it as soon as possible.
He added that the decision and sentence were in stark contrast to the statement by Mujahid that the government was reviewing the legal system with a view to making penalties more rehabilitative, rather than punitive.
“The alleged failure to attend Friday prayers is a personal matter which the state should not govern or interfere.
“It is high time to reconsider the rationale of imposing a prison sentence and fine for mere skipping of Friday prayers and similar offences in the first place.
“Islam is a religion of compassion, justice, mercy and moderation. Criminal punishment is excessive and not the way to address them,” he added.