PETALING JAYA: The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) has appealed against the Shariah High Court’s decision to discharge a Muslim manager of bookstore chain Borders Malaysia for selling and distributing a book it considered un-Islamic.

The appeal against the ruling was filed on March 9, news portal Malaysiakini reported yesterday.

Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Yau Su Peng told the news portal that Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz received the notice last Friday and questioned why the letter was not addressed to Nik Raina’s lawyer, Rosli Dahlan, which was the normal procedure.

The bookstore manager was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Shariah High Court on Feb 26, on a charge of selling and distributing a book, which authorities said contravened Islamic laws.

Rosli had told reporters outside the court that the decision was unexpected, but hailed the court for showing a full understanding of constitutional principles by freeing Nik Raina.

She was charged under Section 13 (1) of the Shariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act, which carries the punishment of up to RM3,000 fine or up to two years’ jail, or both, upon conviction.

On May 23, 2012, Jawi conducted a raid at the bookstore and subsequently Nik Raina was accused by the religious authority of breaching Islamic laws by distributing or selling Irshad Manji’s book, Allah, Liberty and Love. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on March 16, 2015.