Malaysia legislation

Section 31

of *SYARIAH CRIMINAL OFFENCES (FEDERAL TERRITORIES) ACT 1997

Section 31

(a)

is or are kafir;

(b)

has or have ceased to profess the religion of Islam;

(c)

should not be accepted, or cannot be accepted, as professingthe religion of Islam; or

(d)

does not or do not believe in, follow, profess, or belongto, the religion of Islam,

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Laws of Malaysia ACT 559

shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable toa fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to imprisonment fora term not exceeding three years or to both.

(2)

Subsection (1) shall not apply to—

(a)

anything done by any

Court or religious authorityestablished, constituted or appointed by or under anywritten law and empowered to give or issue any rulingor decision on any matter relating to the religion of

Islam;and

(b)

anything done by any person pursuant to or in accordancewith any ruling or decision given or issued by such Courtor religious authority, whether or not such ruling or decisionis in writing or, if in writing, whether or not it is publishedin the Gazette.

Destroying or defiling mosque, surau, etc.

Section 31 — SYARIAH CRIMINAL OFFENCES (FEDERAL TERRITORIES) ACT 1997