published: Monday March 22, 2010 MYT 11:12:00 AM
Updated: Monday March 22, 2010 MYT 4:13:36 PM
Muslim youth group seeks court order against Sisters in Islam (Updated)
By M. MAGESWARI

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Assembly of Mosque Youth (MAMY) is applying to get an order from the High Court to prevent SIS Forum (Malaysia) from using Sisters In Islam as the name and identity of the organisation.

The non-governmental organisation filed a civil action against SIS Forum (Malaysia) through their lawyer Sahlan Saruddin on Monday.

In their originating summons filed Monday morning, MAMY stated that it wanted to seek a declaration that the valid name for the organisation under the law is not Sisters In Islam.

It is also applying for an order to prevent the respondent from using Sisters In Islam as their name and identity in all pamphlets, correspondence (letters), publications and/or statements whether on the Internet, in print or electronic media.

It is also seeking to get an order to force the respondent from removing the name from its website, printed materials and publications.

Apart from asking for costs and further relief deemed fit by the court, it also wants to prevent the respondent from circulating printed materials in such a manner.

In an affidavit filed in support of the application, its executive director Mohd Taqiuddin Abdullah said a check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) revealed that the respondent was registered under the name of “SIS Forum (Malaysia)” and not “Sisters in Islam”.

Besides that, he said the “Memorandum of Association” of the respondent did not state that the purpose of the setting up of the organisation was for the Muslim women but as a secular-feminist movement supporting equal rights between man and women.

Furthermore, he said, the use of the word “Islam” was controlled and limited by the Registrar of Companies and could only be used after getting permission from the SSM and related government agencies.

He claimed that the respondent had often issued statements that contradicted with the teachings of Islamic.

He contended that the actions of respondent in using the name and identity had confused people locally and aboard.

Among others, he said MAMY was a non-governmental organisation with the aims of protecting the Islamic teachings and correcting any violation of law over the matter.

He said the use of the name freely had violated the Company Act 1965.

MAMY de facto leader Dr Muhammad Nawar Ariffin also told media that the organisation, that has 5,000 members in the country, was concerned over the use of the name and would also write a letter to the relevant minister and the registrar of companies to take appropriate action over the offence and “misrepresentation”.

On the net: Sisters in Islam