KUALA LUMPUR — A man whose alleged involvement in a non-Islamic religious ritual sparked widespread attention online has been arrested alongside his mother to assist investigations into possible breaches of Islamic law.
Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad confirmed that the two were arrested in Kuala Lumpur at about noon today, Bernama reported.
He said the arrests were carried out by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) under a reciprocal arrest warrant issued by the Shah Alam Syariah Lower Court.
“The two suspects are being investigated by JAIS under Sections 4 and 10 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995.
“Following intelligence gathered after the case involving the suspects went viral, JAIS is expected to call at least 14 other individuals to assist in the investigation,” he said in a statement today.
Mohd Shahzihan said JAIS was treating the matter seriously and would ensure that any action taken was consistent with its legal powers, the law and the facts established in the case.
“In this regard, the public is advised against speculating or spreading unverified information. We hope all parties will give the authorities room to complete the investigation,” he said.
The two suspects, aged 21 and 52, were later brought to JAIS’s Enforcement Management Division at Bangunan Sultan Idris Shah here to assist in the investigation.
They arrived in a JAIS enforcement van at 3.50pm, with one dressed in dark-coloured clothing and the other in light-coloured attire.
Earlier, Mohd Shahzihan had said JAIS was investigating a viral social media post concerning an individual believed to be Muslim who allegedly participated in a non-Islamic ritual said to contravene Islamic law.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan was also previously reported as saying that his ministry was working with the relevant authorities to address the circulation of several video recordings allegedly showing a Muslim taking part in a non-Islamic religious ritual. – October 13, 2026