We merely fulfilled family’s wish, says mufti in row over Muslim burial
GEORGE TOWN: The mufti of Penang says there was no ill intent in the authorities’ decision to give a Muslim burial to a Sikh woman whose conversion to Islam was questioned by several Sikh leaders, saying it was to fulfil the wishes of her family.
But Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said he was open to a court decision on the matter.
He said K Surinder Kaur, 37, who died after she was violently attacked by her lover, was accorded Islamic burial rites at the request of her immediate family.
She said while the Sikh community has the right to voice their objection, the matter can be decided by the court.
“We were merely fulfilling the family’s request as they said she had converted to Islam.
“If the Sikh community is not satisfied, they can bring this issue to court. Let the court decide if our stand is right or wrong. That would be the best solution,” he told FMT.
He said the authorities would allow for Surinder’s body to be buried elsewhere if the court rules that she was not a Muslim.
“I have no objections although I sympathise with her family as we will be going against their wishes,” he said.
“This dispute is between her family and her community. We were merely helping her family,” he said.
Surinder died of severe brain injuries following an assault on Sunday by a 55-year-old man who repeatedly hurled a crash helmet at her. She was buried on Monday after her brother, who is a Muslim, informed the authorities that she had converted to Islam.
The decision did not sit well with a Sikh-interest group, which lodged a police report.
The brother said Surinder had recited the Islamic declaration of faith twice before him and her mother.![]()
Surinder’s family members, including her parents and four siblings, are Muslims.
Freemalaysiatoday.
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Every conversion has a procedure. By reciting the Islamic declaration of faith before friends and family members one is automatically converted should be make a crime.
Knowing how every TOM, DICK AND HARRY wants to secure golden points to go to heaven, Islam in Malaysia has become a joke.
Then there are some who uses Islam as a mean to escape poverty, unemployment and to benefit the monthly allowance of RM350 should be shot dead.
It is time Jakim, Sultan and the rest of the Islamic Freaks stop the money incentive to lure a person to convert to Islam. This is not right. The giving of money has to STOP IMMEDIATELY.
I believe Surinder's brother, siblings and parents did not convert for the love of Allah but for the MONEY.