KUALA LUMPUR – The Sisters in Islam Forum (SIS Forum) today welcomed the Federal Court’s decision, viewing it as a win not only for their organisation but also for all Malaysians who value due process, democratic oversight and the inclusive spirit of Islam.
In a statement today, SIS said that the court’s recognition that fatwas can and must be subjected to legal scrutiny ensures that no institution is above the law, and that all Malaysians—regardless of belief—have recourse when their rights are infringed.
“For over a decade, SIS has been labeled as ‘deviant’ for advocating justice and equality in Islam,” the statement read.
SIS said that today’s ruling affirms that its struggle is protected under the fundamental liberties provisions guaranteed to all citizens by the Federal Constitution.
“The idea that principles such as justice, compassion, dignity, and differences of opinion are foreign to Islam is a distortion of our faith’s rich intellectual and juristic heritage.
“We reiterate that our struggle was never an attack on Islam or its authorities. Instead, it was a principled legal challenge to a process that lacked transparency, natural justice, and fairness.
SIS added that it strongly believes that when a country uses Islam as a source of law, policy, and practice, the outcomes discriminate against women and violate fundamental liberties and citizens have the right to seek judicial review.
“This case is not about Islam, but about public law and public policy that must pass the test of public scrutiny. Today’s decision is a milestone in ensuring that religious authorities remain accountable to constitutional values and do not wield power unchecked.
“We thank our legal team, supporters, and members of the public who have stood by us throughout this long legal journey. We now look forward to continuing our work—grounded in Islamic principles and human rights standards—towards building a more just, compassionate, and inclusive society for all, and above all, Muslim women,” the statement concluded.
Earlier, the Federal Court partially upheld SIS’s appeal, stating that the Selangor religious authorities were incorrect in declaring the organisation deviant and contrary to Islamic teachings.
In a 3-1 majority decision, the panel of four judges, chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, allowed the women’s rights group’s appeal to set aside the appellate court and High Court’s decisions on a 2014 fatwa.
The court said the Federal Constitution only gives power to the authorities over “persons professing the religion of Islam,” not companies.
“We found that the term ‘persons professing the religion of Islam’ that is applied in Item 1 can only refer to natural persons and not artificial persons like a company,” Tengku Maimun said.
On July 31, 2014, the Selangor government declared that SIS Forum Malaysia, along with individuals and groups advocating liberalism and pluralism, were considered deviant and not aligned with Islamic teachings.
The fatwa also mandated the prohibition and confiscation of any publications expressing liberal and pluralistic ideas and called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to monitor and restrict social media sites that go against Islamic principles and Sharia law.
In October 2014, the founder of SIS Forum Malaysia, Zainah Mahfoozah Anwar submitted an application to contest the ruling made by the Selangor Fatwa Committee.
However, both the High Court and the Court of Appeal denied their requests for judicial review and appeal in August 2020 and March 2023, respectively. They ruled that the civil court lacks jurisdiction over issues related to Sharia law, which rendered the challenge to the Selangor Fatwa Committee’s classification of the organisation as deviant ineffective.
On August 21, 2023, the Federal Court allowed SIS Forum Malaysia to move forward with their appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision. – June 19, 2025