(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Six people have been detained for their alleged involvement in Shia teachings in the state since a fatwa on the ban of the teachings was issued and gazetted by the state Fatwa Committee last year.Of the six, five have been charged with disobeying a fatwa by the state Mufti Department.
Shia was also gazetted as forbidden by the National Fatwa Council on May 5, 1996.
Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) enforcement chief Ahmad Nizam Amiruddin said the six were detained in two separate operations, the first one two days before Hari Raya and the second on Monday.
He said all those arrested were from the northern part of Perak, which witnessed some 15 individuals declaring themselves followers of the banned Shia teachings in 2011.
"We will monitor the situation and keep a watchful eye on the individuals who had declared themselves followers," said Nizam yesterday.
He said in the latest operation, on Monday, four suspected Shia followers, including a couple, were detained for their alleged involvement in the banned teachings.
Nizam said the four, including the couple, all of whom are self-employed, were detained in three separate houses during an hour-long raid in Bagan Serai.
JAIP enforcement chief, Ahmad Nizam Amiruddin (centre) and his officers showing the items confiscated from those alleged involved in the banned Syiah teachings after three separate raids Bagan Serai,Perak. NSTP/Ikhwan Munir.
Various items on the Shia teachings, such as a banner containing names of 12 Shia imams, turbah of Imam Hussain, an assortment of books, T-shirts and other items, were seized from all three houses.
Three of them, Abu Bakar Ahmad, 45, Abdul Manaf Abdul Hamid, 48, and Idris Md Desa, also 48, were charged at the Lower Shariah Court in Taiping the same day and had been granted RM3,000 bail each in one surety (among their heir).
The case has been fixed for re-mention at the same court on Oct 30.
"We are still investigating the case further.
"We are also investigating if they belong to the same group, or if any of them, is the leader of a certain group," Nizam said.
Last month, two suspected Shia followers, including a homeopathy doctor, were charged at the Lower Shariah Court in Taiping for their alleged involvement in the banned Shia teachings.
Dr Nur Azah Abdul Halim, 41, and Mohammad Ridzuan Yusof, 31, pleaded not guilty to possessing books and documents relating to Shia teachings.
Perak, one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia.
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