NGOs send memorandum to Swedish embassy

The detention of a Malaysian couple by Swedish authorities for allegedly hitting their son's hand for not performing his prayers have grabbed the attention of various quarters, with many hoping that the issue will be resolved fast.

In the latest development, Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM) and the Malaysia Muslim Chamber of Economic and Social Affairs (DESMMA) have sent a protest memorandum to the Embassy of Sweden here.

IRIMM chairman Amir Amsaa Alla Pitchay said the association viewed the detention as violating the human rights of a Muslim.

"The memorandum requests the Swedish government to release the couple who are still being detained," he told reporters after presenting the memorandum to the embassy's representative, Sven Theus Malmberg.

He said as a result of the meeting, the embassy promised to go over the document for further action.

DESMMA president Mohd Fazil Abdullah urged the Swedish government to be more sensitive towards the issue involving Muslims in a European country and not easily meting a sentence.

"They can give a warning first before taking action. What is happening now is too drastic," he said.

Tourism Malaysia director in Stockholm, Azizul Raheem Awalludin, and his wife Shalwati Nurshal, who is a teacher on unpaid leave, were detained by the local authorities in Sweden on Dec 18 and their remand has been extended for another two weeks to facilitate the investigation.

Their four children, aged between seven and 14, have been placed with a foster family by Sweden's social services since the arrest.

Meanwhile, International Muslim Consumers Association secretary-general Sheikh Abdul Kareem S. Khadaied said the couple's arrest violated international law.

Abdul Kareem said this was enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 which was also signed by Sweden.

"We view this action as disrespectful to Islam. We view this seriously and ask the Swedish government to respect Islam," he told a news conference attended by various Muslim NGOs here.

A representative of an independent legal body, Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, said they would soon go to Sweden with some of the couple's family members to follow the development of the case.

"We want to know the actual status of the case. There are many versions, including the couple will be charged or released on Jan 26 and so on.

"We hope the children be allowed to give their statements soon to facilitate the investigation so that they can be brought back to Malaysia. That is our mission," he said.

Muslim NGO Federation Secretariat chairman Datuk Jamal Md Yunus said it had urged the Swedish embassy here to explain by Friday on the solutions that can be taken.

"We urge them (embassy) to be more proactive so that the matter can be quickly resolved. The people need to know the scenario," he added.

Meanwhile, Wanita Umno information chief Datuk Rosni Zahari asked Wisma Putra to arrange talks between the two governments to resolve the issue.

The Malaysian government must interfere in this matter and work towards getting the children home while waiting for a verdict on their parents' arrest, she said in a statement on Monday.

In KOTA BAHARU, State Women, Community Development and Health Committee chairman Mumtaz Md Nawi said the Malaysian embassy in Sweden should be allowed to take custody of the couple's children.

"There is no charge yet and the investigation has been going on for a month.

We want things to speed up, and the children must be taken care by a Muslim family," she told reporters.