Lawyer marches to Parliament, wants talks on whether Hadi’s Bill is God’s Law

(MMO) – High-profile lawyer and social activist Siti Kasim called today for an open discussion on whether or not PAS’ proposal to strengthen the Shariah courts is a true representation of “God’s Law”.

Siti led a small group of seven citizens to Parliament this morning in protest of PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s private member’s Bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, also known as Act 355, to allow for heavier penalties against Muslims who break religious laws.

“Let’s open up for discussion if this is really God’s law. Let us open up to talk,” she told reporters outside the Parliament building.

“We do not want to destroy Islam but strengthen it. Islam is not all about punishments,” she added.

Siti pointed out that former Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya had recently remarked that PAS must be open to claims that the Shariah amendment Bill is not based on God’s law.

Siti said that the group will also be sending a memorandum soon to MPs to state their case against Hadi’s proposed amendments.

Hadi’s Bill is listed as item number five on the Dewan Rakyat’s Order Paper today. The amendments are widely seen as an enabler of PAS’ ambitions to implement hudud, a harsh Islamic penal code, in Kelantan.