Mujahid says khalwat raids and arrests to continue after all

(The Sun Daily) – Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa has denied that he wants to stop religious departments’ law enforcers from “knocking on doors at night” during khalwat raids.

In an interview with TV Al Hijrah which he shared on Facebook today, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the headline “No more night khalwat raids or intrusion into Muslims’ private lives, says Mujahid” was wrong.

Mujahid, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, denied saying such in his interview with The Star.

“I only spoke about the offences committed in public and private, and I highlighted the abuse of power and intrusion of private spaces which do not reflect the methods and ways of Islam,” he said in Malay, referring to the khalwat controversy.

“I never said to stop the purported practice of knocking on doors at night. Those were additions by the editor who drew his own conclusion based on my statements.

“I only spoke on offence on public and private space, and also the misuse of power and the intrusion of private space which does not reflect the ways of Islam.”

The report drew a differing view from an academic. The stopping of such raids might send a wrong signal to Muslims the country, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia senior lecturer Dr. Muzaffar Syah Mallow said.

“If the authorities are not permitted to do so, how can they do their job in preventing khalwat offences in the country?” he asked in a statement.

“There is a great fear that if such crime is not being prevented at early stage, it might open a door to other crimes like sex outside marriage, unwanted pregnancy, baby dumping, and other social ills.”

He admitted although there are weaknesses in the SOP on khalwat raids, but this should not stop the enforcement.

He said a proposal is needed to improve the existing SOP in order to carry out the enforcement more professionally and according to the law which is protected under the Federal Constitution.

Meanwhile, an organisation called Nadwah Ulama Nahdhah Jadidah defended Mujahid’s statement. It said in a statement posted in Mujahid’s Facebook that it is best to review news received and check on the actual text before disseminating to others.