KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) does not need any court order to seize the book "Allah Liberty & Love - Courage To Reconcile Faith & Freedom" by controversial writer, Irshad Manji, said Jawi senior enforcement assistant principal director Wan Jaafar Wan Ahmad.
HE said the seizure was carried out over the last two days according to the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act on offences relating to the sanctity of Islam and its institutions including publications against IslamIic laws.
"No need for court order. We are not searching. Before coming to seize, we had already obtained intelligence on finding the book.
"If a person is accused and needs to be present in court, only then we need a court order," he said when contacted by Bernama. He was commenting on the statement by ZI Publications that the company was considering legal action against Jawi for confiscating the book at a shop in the city.
The statement, issued via a news portal, among others, said the owner and director of the company, Ezra Zaid wanted to sue Jawi. Wan Jaafar said it was up to the company to sue Jawi, adding it should not be a problem.
The Home Ministry has banned the book as it misled the people and violated syariah laws.
Deputy Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said the prohibition order was made according to Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 as the book's content could shock the people and harm public security and order.
Irshad, a Ugandan-born writer, holds Canadian citizenship and who is reported to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement, created a controversy with her visit to Malaysia to launch the book. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said Jawi had the power to seize any books or articles which threaten the faith of Muslims in the country. - Bernama
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