BANGKOK, Thailand (24 June 2025) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) celebrates the Malaysian Federal Court’s landmark ruling to quash a 2014 fatwa (religious edict) against the women’s rights group Sisters in Islam.
On 19 June 2025, the court ruled that the fatwa cannot be enforced on organizations or institutions such as Sisters in Islam since the Federal Court deemed the fatwa’s applicability is only relevant to individuals professing the religion of Islam. A fatwa is an interpretation of points from the Sharia law issued by the State Fatwa Councils in Malaysia.
The fatwa was issued by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council, the primary religious authority in Selangor. It argued that the Sisters in Islam had deviated from Islamic teachings by subscribing to “liberalism and religious pluralism.”
FORUM-ASIA welcomes the Federal Court’s judgement as it affirms that the issuance of fatwas must follow due process. We commend the Sisters in Islam for challenging a process that lacked transparency and fairness.
“FORUM-ASIA is in solidarity with the Sisters in Islam. The court’s decision is a win for all Malaysian civil society organizations, especially those promoting women’s rights, diversity, inclusion, and gender equality. This proves that freedom of expression shall always prevail,” said Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.
What happened
Sisters in Islam is a non-governmental organization (NGO) working to advance the rights of Muslim women in Malaysia.
They advocate for legal reforms and provide free legal advice, with the goal of ensuring that women can effectively access justice and exercise their rights under local Islamic family and criminal offences laws as well as their civil and political rights including on freedom of expression.
In 2014, the fatwa issued by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council labelled the Sisters in Islam as “deviant.” It also ordered a ban and seizure of the NGO’s publications which were deemed to contain elements of liberalism and religious pluralism.
In addition, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commision were ordered to block websites that go against Islamic teachings. The Religious Council also sought repentance from individuals holding on to liberalism and religious pluralism.
However, the court ruled that the Selangor Islamic Religious Council cannot ban publications and block websites as such actions require the involvement of federal agencies, which is already beyond the fatwa’s scope.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council issued the fatwa unilaterally, hence Sisters in Islam had no opportunity to defend itself. For over a decade, Sisters In Islam had been challenging the fatwa at Malaysian civil courts.
Sisters in Islam explained that the act of challenging the fatwa is not an attack against Islam, but an exercise of their constitutional rights to seek legal redress. The NGO was only peacefully fighting for their right to be heard and access due process.
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The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 90 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu. www.forum-asia.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
- Communications and Media Programme, FORUM-ASIA, communication@forum-asia.org
The post [Statement] MALAYSIA: Federal Court overturns fatwa against Sisters in Islam, civil society celebrates win for women’s rights first appeared on FORUM-ASIA.
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