Friday, June 12, 2009

NGOs (including WH4C) ask PAS to reconsider call to ban SIS (Star Online)






PAS has been urged to reconsider its position and to retract its call for the ban on Sisters in Islam (SIS), a coalition of non-governmental organisations said Saturday.

The joint statement, signed by 42 NGOs including SIS, said they were deeply disturbed by PAS calling for SIS to be banned and its members rehabilitated should its activities be determined to be contrary to the Islamic syariah.

The statement added that demanding for action against SIS was not easily reconciled with PAS’ public rhetoric in favour of a more democratic and inclusive Malaysia.

“On the contrary, the demand is wholly anti-democratic. Though members of PAS are entitled to their views, the call for the banning of SIS is wholly unacceptable.”

The statement said as a matter of principle, the question of banning any organisation purely for their views should not arise at all.

“Differences of views must be respected and, if at all, be resolved through constructive engagement.”

The statement added that just like how PAS had the freedom to associate and to express views, the members of SIS, or any other organisation are equally guaranteed the same freedom.

“The call to silence SIS and send its members for rehabilitation is an act of violence against those freedom and their constitutional underpinnings.”

Other NGOs who signed the statement include the Bar Council Human Rights Committee, Aliran, Suaram, Centre for Independent Journalism and DAP Socialist Youth.

The statement was signed by:

Aliran

Amnesty International Malaysia

Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW)

All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) Bar Council Human Rights Committee

Bus Users Group, Penang

Cakap Rakyat Group

Centre for Independent Journalism

Civil Society Committee Of LLG Cultural

Development Centre (LLGCSC)

Civil Society Initiative For Parliamentary

Reform (CSI@Parliament)

CPI

DAP Socialist Youth

Five Arts Centre

Friends-In-Conversation

Group Of Concerned Citizens And Monitoring

Sustainability Of Globalisation

Health Equity Initiatives

HRC

Instant Cafe Theatre

KOMAS

National Institute for Electoral Integrity

NCWO

OHMSI

PBT (Persatuan Bahasa Tionghua) USM

Penangwatch

Perak Women For Women Society (PWW)

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)

Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah

Persekutuan (PERMAS)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor

Sarawak Women For Women Society

Sekretariat Anak Muda Malaysia

Sisters In Islam (SIS)

SOS (Save Ourselves), Penang

SUARA RAKYAT MALAYSIA (SUARAM)

The Fahmina-institute Cirebon

The KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

Youth Section

The Micah Mandate

WAO

WCC

Women’s Centre For Change (WCC) Penang

Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP)

Worker Hub For Change (WH4C)

Writer Alliance For Media Independence (WAMI)


Source: Star Online, 13/6/2009, NGOs ask PAS to reconsider call to ban SIS





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