KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Illi Najwa Hussein Saddique has clarified her status as a Muslim following an audience with Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at Istana Bukit Pelangi, Johor Baru, today.
According to a Facebook post on the ruler’s account, Sultan Ibrahim granted an audience to Johor mufti Datuk Yahya Ahmad and state Islamic Department (JAINJ) director Datuk Rofiki Shamsudin over the matter.
During the audience, Yahya and Rofiki presented the outcome of their investigation with regard to Illi Najwa’s religious status following her marriage to Indian hockey captain Manpreet Singh Pawar, a Sikh, last year.
Yahya said in his statement to Johor’s Royal Press Office that a full investigation by JAINJ has revealed that she has remained a Muslim.
“JAINJ officers have called Illi Najwa, along with her mother and other witnesses, and taken statements from them.
“Investigations revealed that Illi Najwa has never committed apostasy,” he said, adding that she had also sought an audience with the ruler today on the matter.
Yahya added that the couple’s Malaysian marriage registration is underway in Johor Baru.
“There are no issues in registering their marriage and the matter is considered settled,” he said.
The controversy emerged after it was reported that Manpreet and Illi Najwa had married in Mithapur near the city of Jalandhar in Punjab, India, last December.
Pictures and videos of Manpreet, 28, who wore a Punjabi wedding suit complete with a turban, while Illi Najwa wore a Punjabi wedding dress when exchanging vows, raised questions among netizens in Malaysia about her religious status.
In response, Illi Najwa said her husband had already converted to Islam since the end of 2019.
Following the controversy, Sultan Ibrahim then decreed that JAINJ and the Johor mufti investigate the status of her religion. – The Vibes, March 18, 2021
