Court dismisses JAWI's appeal over book raid

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal from Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) in the seizure of Irshad Manji’s controversial book at a Borders bookstore, two years ago.

JAWI together with Home Minister and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department has made a plea against judicial review from Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd allowed by Kuala Lumpur High Court to change the decision regarding the legality of JAWI’s action over the book raid.

But Justice Mah Weng Kwai, Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh and Datuk Umi Kalthum decided there was no merit in the appeal to overturn High Court’s decision, the Star Online reported.

It also thwarted JAWI’s plan to charge the Borders store manager Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz to Syariah Court for distributing by way of selling the banned book if the appeal is successful.

On May 29, 2012, the Home Ministry banned the book in May 2012 but the ban was only enforced on June 2012 when JAWI raided the bookstore.

The following year Kuala Lumpur High Court has ruled that JAWI raid's at the Borders bookstore, Gardens Mall and the seizure of Irshad Manji’s book as illegal.

The book written by Irshad Manji, “Allah, Liberty, and Love” was deemed to be contrary to Islamic Law.