GISBH fails in bid to challenge Kedah fatwa declaring teachings deviant

The Alor Setar High Court has rejected GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd and its CEO, Nasiruddin Mohd Ali's request to pursue a judicial review against a fatwa issued by the Kedah State Fatwa Committee.

The fatwa deemed the beliefs and practices of GISBH followers as deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings, thus falling under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Syariah Court.

Judge Evawani Farisyta Mohammad upheld the Attorney General's objection, noting the fatwa's content relates to Syariah law and was issued under the Sultan of Kedah's prerogative powers, rendering it non-justiciable in civil courts.

GISBH and Nasiruddin argued that the fatwa negatively impacted their reputation and operations.

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 11 — The Alor Setar High Court has dismissed an application by GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) and its Chief Executive Officer, Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, for leave to initiate judicial review proceedings to challenge a state fatwa issued against them last year.

The fatwa, issued by the Kedah State Fatwa Committee on February 12 last year, ruled that the beliefs, teachings, tenets and practices of GISBH members and followers were deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings.

The committee also ruled that any Muslim who acted in contravention of the fatwa committed an offence under the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Kedah Darul Aman) 2014 and was liable to legal action under the laws in force in Kedah.

Judge Evawani Farisyta Mohammad dismissed the application by GISBH and Nasiruddin after allowing the Attorney General’s objection to their application for leave to commence judicial review proceedings.

In the grounds of judgment dated September 7, which was uploaded on the judiciary’s website, the judge said the contents of the fatwa were based on Syariah law and therefore fell within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Syariah Court, meaning that the Civil Court had no jurisdiction to determine the matter.

“…this court, regarding the reliefs sought by the applicants (GISBH and Nasiruddin), is essentially being asked to review the content or substance of the fatwa and to quash it,” she said.

Judge Evawani also said the fatwa referred to individuals involved with GISBH rather than GISBH as a corporate entity.

She noted that the fatwa was issued pursuant to the prerogative powers of the Sultan of Kedah and was therefore a decision that was non-justiciable and could not be challenged through judicial review.

In their application for leave, GISBH and Nasiruddin had sought an order of certiorari to quash the decision made by the respondents through the issuance of the fatwa.

The applicants named the Kedah State Fatwa Committee, Kedah State Islamic Religious Council and Mufti of Kedah as respondents.

Nasiruddin and GISBH claimed that the fatwa had adversely affected their operations and reputation, as well as those of individuals associated with them, and had resulted in them being perceived as followers of deviant teachings.

The Attorney General objected to the application on the grounds that the fatwa was not subject to judicial review or adjudication, as it constituted an exercise of the Ruler’s prerogative powers. — Bernama

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亚罗士打高等法院驳回了 GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd 及其首席执行官 Nasiruddin Mohd Ali 提出的对吉打州宗教法令委员会发布的宗教法令进行司法审查的请求。

该教令认定 GISBH 追随者的信仰和做法是偏离正道的，与伊斯兰教义相悖，因此属于伊斯兰教法庭的专属管辖范围。

法官埃瓦瓦尼·法里西塔·穆罕默德支持了总检察长的反对意见，指出该教令的内容与伊斯兰教法有关，并且是根据吉打苏丹的特权权力发布的，因此在民事法庭上不具有可诉性。

GISBH 和 Nasiruddin 认为该教令对他们的声誉和运营产生了负面影响。

布城，9月11日讯——亚罗士打高等法院驳回了GISB控股有限公司（GISBH）及其首席执行官纳西鲁丁·莫哈末·阿里提出的申请，该申请旨在启动司法审查程序，挑战去年针对他们的州宗教法令。

去年 2 月 12 日，吉打州教令委员会发布的教令裁定，GISBH 成员和追随者的信仰、教义、信条和做法是偏离正道的，与伊斯兰教义相悖。

委员会还裁定，任何违反该教令的穆斯林都触犯了 2014 年《吉打州伊斯兰教法刑事犯罪法令》，并应根据吉打州现行法律受到法律制裁。

法官 Evawani Farisyta Mohammad 驳回了 GISBH 和 Nasiruddin 的申请，此前他允许总检察长反对他们申请启动司法审查程序。

在9月7日上传至司法机构网站的判决理由中，法官表示，该教令的内容基于伊斯兰教法，因此属于伊斯兰教法庭的专属管辖范围，这意味着民事法庭无权裁决此事。

“……本法院对于申请人（GISBH 和 Nasiruddin）提出的救济请求，实际上是要求审查该教令的内容或实质，并予以撤销，”她说。

埃瓦瓦尼法官还表示，该教令指的是与 GISBH 有关的个人，而不是 GISBH 这个法人实体。

她指出，该教令是根据吉打苏丹的特权发布的，因此属于不可诉决定，不能通过司法审查提出质疑。

GISBH 和 Nasiruddin 在申请休假时，请求法院下令撤销被告通过发布教令所作出的决定。

申请人将吉打州教令委员会、吉打州伊斯兰宗教理事会和吉打州穆夫提列为答辩人。

纳西鲁丁和 GISBH 声称，该教令对他们的运营和声誉，以及与他们有关联的个人的运营和声誉产生了不利影响，并导致他们被视为异端教义的追随者。

总检察长反对这项申请，理由是该教令不受司法审查或裁决，因为它构成统治者行使特权。——马新社

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