Jais probes allegations of a Muslim taking part in another religion's rituals

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) is investigating a viral social media post about an individual believed to be Muslim who allegedly took part in religious rituals of another faith that contravene Islamic law.

Director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said JAIS had launched the investigation under Sections 4 and 10 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995, which cover acts of worship carried out in violation of Islamic law and acts that bring Islam into disrepute.

"JAIS has so far been unable to confirm whether the individual carried out the act during the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves, Selangor, as claimed in the viral post.

"We also cannot rule out the possibility that the post was altered using superimposition or artificial intelligence (AI)," he said in a statement today.

Mohd Shahzihan said JAIS is also investigating several aspects of the case, including where the incident took place, to determine whether the department has the jurisdiction to take further action under the applicable laws.

"JAIS takes issues concerning the faith of Muslims in Selangor seriously, and all information and complaints will be investigated in a professional, firm, timely, accurate and fair manner," he said.

The media reported yesterday that the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) and the authorities were taking action following the circulation of several video clips allegedly showing a Muslim individual participating in non-Muslim religious rituals.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said his department noted that the videos were also linked to alleged acts of worship and the use of certain incantations. — BERNAMA