Muslims are prohibited from spying on each other

Court order required for khalwat raids in Kelantan

Kelantan’s khalwat enforcers are required to obtain a Lower Syariah Court order before raiding homes or rooms of couples suspected of khalwat (close proximity).

State Religious Affairs Committee chairman Hassan Mahamood said the state practises a tactful approach in handling such cases, bearing in mind the need to observe the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

“Muslims are prohibited from spying on each other or openly disclosing sins. They also cannot constantly find fault with others,” Hassan told a press conference.

In this context, he said, enforcement officers must first verify a complaint over an alleged khalwat case. He said raids should not be conducted based on rumours but on guidelines where officers must write down the complaint, investigate and seek a court order before raiding premises, homes and hotel rooms.

Hassan said Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was right in determining that it was wrong to embarrass suspected khalwat couples by indiscriminate raids. Hassan, who is Tawang assemblyman, said the state was increasing its patrols and preventive measures to reduce social ills among Muslims. “We are more concerned with offences such as consuming alcohol in public and gambling. We want to eradicate them.”

However, Perak Islamic Religious Department (PIRD) disagreed. According to it's director Datuk Jamry Sury, PIRD will continue with its raids if it receives complaints of sinful acts.

Jamry said it was improper to prevent the Islamic religious authority from making such raids as it was its responsibility to prevent sinful acts, regardless of the location where they were being committed.

“If the authority is not allowed to inspect hotels, unmarried Muslim couples will take the opportunity to commit sins there without any fear or conscience,” he told reporters at his office here.

Furthermore, it would be pointless to set up the enforcement division if its function was restricted, he added.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin has admitted that the enforcement of laws relating to khalwat are weak and may need tidying up.

"The law is good, but the problem is that the enforcement procedures need to be strengthened," he said.

On the call by Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin for religious authorities to not focus on spying and arresting couples in hotel rooms but instead put more effort into preventing religious crimes committed openly, Dr Abdullah said it was Mohd Asri’s personal views as a young man.