PAS’ minister Datuk Idris Ahmad was reported to have said that Oktoberfest – a beer festival – should not be allowed in Malaysia.
The deputy minister from Bersatu defended the stand taken by Idris.
For the record, PAS has been openly opposing Oktoberfest from day one despite the fact the festival has nothing to do with Muslims, let alone any infringement of Muslims’ rights.
In other words such a beer festival does not violate any basic rights of any Muslims.
If at all any such infringement occurs, it only implicates the rights and freedom of our non-Muslim brothers and sisters in this country.
Being a Muslim I may have my own personal opinion on the beer festival but I strongly believe that I have no right to show an iota of disrespect on the rights of any non-Muslims to participate in Oktoberfest.
In taking this position, I am duly guided by the firm stand taken by renowned Muslim scholars in the past who unhesitatingly upheld the right of non-Muslims to freely practice their own religions.
For instance, in a letter to his appointed governor – Malik Al-Ashtar – the Muslim caliph Imam Ali, inter alia, reminded his appointee with the following apt advice:
“… remember that the citizens of the state are of two categories.They are either your brethren in religion (Muslims) or your brethren in kind (non-Muslims).”
Another examplary scholar was a Muslim saint by the name of Sheikh Ahmad Zarruq.
He took a bold stand and high risk by strenuously defending the rights of non-Muslims in Morocco, so much so that he was severely penalised by being banished to Libya.
The history in Islamic traditions has also recorded the noble contribution of a renowned Algerian fighter against the French invasion.
His name was Amir Abd el-Kader.
Despite his bravery in fighting against the non-Muslims’ invasion of his own land, he was also known to have duly protected the life of non-Muslims – the Maronite Christians – who were unfortunately persecuted by some overzealous elements in the Muslim camps.
Such an incident took place during the 1860 Mount Lebanon civil war.
His magnanimous conduct did not escape the attention of many non-Muslim leaders. History has duly cemented such a lofty demeanour.
The late Abraham Lincoln even extolled his awesome virtues. One of the towns in Iowa was also named after the Algerian.
Yes, this Muslim hero fought fearlessly against the non-Muslim invaders who colonised his country.
Yet, that in itself did not deter him from safeguarding the lives of the non-Muslims who were subjected to unfair persecution by some fanatical Muslims themselves during the famous Mount Lebanon civil war.
In helping the Christian adherents during such a civil war, el-Kader never harboured any resentment, ill-will or vendetta against the non-Muslims despite the fact that they had colonised his land in Algeria.
What do all these historical events tell us? Yes, they tell us that Muslims are not supposed to have qualms in respecting and protecting the rights of non-Muslims.
Constitutionally speaking, I respectfully submit that the rights of non-Muslims to participate in Oktoberfest is firmly enshrined in Article 11 of our apex law.
Hence they have every right to practise their own religion unhindered by any threats.
Such a sacrosanct right ought to be jealously upheld.
Some Muslims harbour unfounded fears that the beer festival, which is a public affair, may engender some elements of public disorder, supposing the liquor drinkers would be overwhelmed by severe intoxication or drunkenness.
As such, they argued, the beer festival ought not to be allowed.
I am of the view that such concerns, assuming they are valid, still cannot diminish the embedded rights duly enshrined by Article 11 of the constitution.
If there would be any public disorder at all, the proviso in Sub-Article 5 of Article 11 could still be resorted to by the authorities, if necessities arise. – The Vibes, August 4, 2022
Mohamed Hanipa Maidin is a former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) and the current MP for Sepang
