Jakim says never opposed Islamic feminism forum
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — The Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) has never opposed or objected to a forum on the “future of Islamic feminism”, its chief director said today.
Othman Mustapha stressed that a September 19 The Malaysian Insider report was untrue.
The forum was organised by the Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF), Jakim said.
“Jakim regrets the actions of some parties who deliberately use Jakim’s name to manipulate issues for their own interests when Jakim was not even informed about the forum,” Othman said in a short but strongly-worded statement.
The Malaysian Insider had on September 19 carried a report quoting the forum’s organisers as saying that they were “pressured” by religious authorities who seemed intent on cancelling the event.
The organisers had claimed they received a phone call from Jakim officials on the day, an hour before the forum began, saying that the department wanted its representative to be included as a panelist in the forum.
IRF chairman Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa had stated that Jakim was not invited to be part of the event.
