No laws criminalises Islamising minors but Federal Court ruled it illegal

While there are no laws that criminalises the act of Islamising minors within what is permitted in the Federal Constitution, the Federal Court decisions in the case of Indira Gandhi and Loh Siew Hong ruled that converting an under aged minor without the permission of their parents are illegal.

“There are no legal provisions for the offence of Islamising by violating the Federal Constitution. Based on the Federal Court decisions in the case of Indira Gandhi and Loh Siew Hong, the conversion to Islam of children under the age of 18 without the permission of parents has been ruled illegal by the Federal Court.

Hence, the conversion to Islam cannot be registered according to law,” said Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Datuk Dr Na’im Mokhtar.

Naim said this in his written reply to Pang Hok Liong (PH-Labis).

Pang asked when would the government ban schools, colleges or public higher education institutions from converting non-Muslim youth to Islam and force them to attend Quranic classes without the permission or written agreement of the parents.

Article 12 (4) of the Federal Constitution states that the religion of a person under the age of eighteen years shall be decided by his parent or guardian.

The word parent is defined as both mother and father.