PETALING JAYA (Dec 1, 2006): Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI), the group advocating for the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA), has expressed shock at calls for the law to be used against Muslim apostates.

GMI chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said people should refrain from advocating the use of the ISA without understanding what detention without trial was about and its adverse effect on peoples' lives.

GMI was responding to press reports yesterday that quoted International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) law lecturer Dr Zulkifly Muda as saying the ISA could be used against apostates because they could be deemed a threat to public order and security.

Zulkifly made the statement during a presentation at Wednesday (Nov 29)'s "Convention on Freedom of Religion and the Issue of Apostacy: Towards Practical Solutions" at IIUM.

Syed Ibrahim said the ISA has only been used for political expediency since its existence more than 40 years ago.

"Those who wield the ISA have no intention of combating issues such as racial conflict, drugs, violence and others because the law denies detainees the right to a trial. Hence, it is impossible to determine who is responsible for creating such issues," he said in a press statement today (Dec 1).

He stressed the need for the ISA to be repealed because it allowed for detention without trial, abuse of power and human rights violations.

The GMI consists of 83 non-governmental organisations, including the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim).

However, Abim president Yusri Mohamad said the ISA could be used against apostates in extreme situations where they threaten peace, order and security, and where "the authorities have trouble compiling evidence".

But, Yusri added, apostasy had not reached an extent that justified using the ISA.