Malaysian Muslims to Receive Faith Counseling After Church Event

Posted October 11th, 2011 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

A Malaysian state ruler has ordered counseling for a dozen Muslims who officials believe were proselytized at a Christian church hall in August.

Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the sultan of Selangor state, directed Muslim officials to help the group “restore their belief and faith.”

The 12 Muslims were attending a community dinner at a Methodist church hall when it was raided by Islamic religious police. Sultan Sharafuddin says there was evidence the organizers were attempting to “weaken the faith and belief of Muslims,” but says it will take no further legal action in the case. The church has denied it was proselytizing.

It is illegal to convert Muslims to other religions in most Malaysian states.

Muslims comprise the majority of Malaysia's 28 million people, with the rest made up of Christians, Buddhists and Hindus. Many non-Muslims have complained in recent years of a growing effort to strengthen Islam's grip on Malaysia.