Description

Malaysia is a Muslim majority country. However, there is evidence of discrimination and marginalization of minorities within the Muslim community, most notably against the Shias. This seminar traces the origins of such discrimination and marginalisation, as well as examines the range of legislative and political tools employed to these effects. It focuses in particular on a centrally-inspired 1996 fatwa (religious legal opinion) banning Shi’ism and the propagation of Shia teachings in the country, which significantly limits the religious freedom of this minority group. The seminar also examines the role of the religious bureaucracy and the media in how the state engages with Muslim minorities. The role of non-state actors who claim an Islamist platform are also examined.

About The Speaker

Dr. Mohd Faizal Musa (Faisal Tehrani) is Research Fellow at Institute of the Malay World and Civilization (ATMA), National University of Malaysia (UKM). At the moment he is Visiting Lecturer at Department of Malay Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore. His current research areas are in adopting a human rights approach concerning religious minorities with specific reference to Shia and Ahmadiyyah adherents, and Human Rights in Malay Literature. He is also well known author in Malaysia with six of his 23 literary works, Sebongkah Batu di Kuala Berang (2011), Perempuan Nan Bercinta (2012), Tiga Kali Seminggu (2010), Ingin jadi Nasrallah (2010), Karbala (2007) and Sinema Spiritual (2012) were banned by Malaysian government (Home Ministry). His key academic publications are ‘The Malaysian Shi‘a: A Preliminary Study of Their History, Oppression, and Denied Rights’ (2013, Journal of Shi‘a Islamic Studies), and ‘The Axiology of Pilgrimage: The Malaysian Shi’ites Ziyarat to Iran and Iraq’ (2013, International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology ). His published academic book is Wacana Sastera Islam di Malaysia dan Indonesia (2012, Penerbit UPM). He graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Sharia (Islamic Studies), University of Malaya; received his MA in Comparative Literature from University Science of Malaysia, in 2000 and a PhD. in Comparative Literature from Institute of the Malay World and Civilization (ATMA), National University of Malaysia (UKM) in 2010.