My name is Haris Mohd. Ibrahim.  I am 47 years old and in legal practice.

 

Let me first tell you why I decided to set up this website. Then I will tell you a little bit about myself.

 

1. Why this website?

In late July, 2006, the Prime Minister directed that the Article 11 coalition halt the ‘Federal Constitution: Protection For All’ public forums and all discussion of inter-faith issues, presumably to placate certain agitated quarters.

 

Article 11 has co-operated.

 

Those opposed to Article 11's forums and activities, however, have been unrelenting in their demonisation of Article 11 and its forums with malicious lies, prominently aired by the Malay dailies.

 

Statements issued by Article 11 members to refute those lies, on the other hand, have largely been disregarded by the mainstream media.

 

Malaysians who care about our country must know the truth about the Article 11 initiatives, particularly the forums, and why they were opposed.

 

Malaysians must know the truth about what is happening to our country.

 

Through this website, I hope to share with you the truth as I see it.     

 

2. My involvement in civil society: a summary

I am a member of the:

·       Malaysian Civil Liberties Society [MCLS] (Pro-tem Committee), which is a member of the Article 11 coalition; and

·        Human Rights Society of Malaysia [HAKAM], which is also a member of Article 11.

 

4 Apostates

In November, 2000, two other lawyers and I undertook civil court proceedings for four Malays who had renounced Islam in August, 1998.  They were convicted by the Kota Bharu Syariah High Court on 19 November 2000 and sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment each. We lost in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. In 2004, the Federal Court dismissed their appeals.  

 

Interfaith Commission of Malaysia ( IFC ) Initiative  

From February, 2001 until March, 2006, I was a member of the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the Bar Council. During this time, I served on the:

·       Pro-tem Committee, established in 2001, to look into the formation of an Inter-Religious Council (later called the IFC ); and

·       Steering Committee, formed in 2003, responsible for organising the National Conference towards the IFC’s formation. 

 

Shamala’s case

In 2003 and 2004, I appeared as counsel holding watching brief for the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), Sisters in Islam (SIS) and Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) in the High Court. I am holding watching brief for the same women’s groups in the Court of Appeal.

 

Moorthy’s case

I appeared as counsel holding watching brief for the Bar at the High Court. I am also appearing as co-counsel, with Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, holding watching brief before the Court of Appeal.

 

Lina Joy’s case

I appeared as co-counsel with Malik Imtiaz Sarwar holding watching brief for the Bar, both in the Court of Appeal and in the Federal Court.

 

Others

·        In September, 2000, I was part of a group of 29  individuals all of whom profess Islam as our way of life, who submitted a memorandum to SUHAKAM to protest against the “Restoration of Faith Bill” that was due to be presented in Parliament.  Subsequently, the government announced that the Bill would be reviewed and further ordered that a similar Bill that had been passed in the Perlis State legislative assembly would not be gazetted yet, to enable it to be reconsidered. 

·        In April 2005, I was part of a group of 226 individuals, all of whom profess Islam as our way of life, who submitted an appeal to Their Royal Highnesses the Malay Rulers seeking a review and repeal of laws passed and passed off as Syariah that, in our view, were oppressive and not in keeping with the principles of Islam.

·        I represent the wife of Ariffin Mohamed (better known as Ayah Pin) in respect of the demolition of the Sky Kingdom in July last year.

· I am co-counsel with Malik Imtiaz Sarwar for the individual who has challenged the constitutionality of the Terengganu Takzir laws that make it an offence to hold a view contrary to any gazetted fatwa.  This case is awaiting the Federal Court’s decision.

 

Most Recent

From January, 2006, I have been actively involved in the organisation of Article 11 initiatives, including the forums.

 

My involvement in the above endeavours has been motivated by my understanding of the following Injunctions of God.

 

       "What has come over you that you strive not in the cause of God and for the oppressed

men, women and children, who pray: 'Get us out of this city, O Lord, whose people are oppressors;

send us a friend by Your Will, and send us a helper." – Surah 4 verse 75 of the Holy Qur'an.

                    "O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against

yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, whether rich or poor, for God alone can best protect both.

Follow not your lusts, lest ye swerve, and if ye distort or decline to do justice, know then that God is

well-acquainted with all that ye do." – Surah 4 verse 135 of the Holy Qur'an.  

                       "The faithful who sit idle, other than the disabled, are not equal to those who

strive in the way of God with their wealth and their lives. God has exalted those in rank who strive for

the faith with their wealth and their souls over those who sit idle. Though God's promise of good is for

all, He has granted His favour of the highest reward to those who struggle in preference to those who

sit at home." – Surah 4 verse 95 of the Holy Qur'an.

                                    “O ye who believe! What is the matter with you that, when ye are asked

to go forth in the Cause of God, ye cling heavily to the earth? Do you prefer the life of this world to the

hereafter? But little is the comfort of this life as compared with the hereafter.”

– Surah 9 verse 38 of the Holy Qur’an.

 

If, in acting as I have, I have erred in my understanding of these Commands, it is to God alone that I turn to for forgiveness.

 

 

15th November, 2006