Source: Hindu Press International/Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism Press Release

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2006/12/7.shtml#2

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA--Mr. R. Thiagarja, Honorary Secretary General Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, sends the following press release:

"The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism extend its deepest condolences to the family of the late Mr. Rayappan Anthony. We are deeply distressed that the family's grief has been worsened by the actions of the Islamic authorities in threatening to take away the body, thus denying the family their right to pay their last respects peacefully to their loved one according to the religion he professed when he passed away.

"The Syariah High Court's ex parte order applying Islamic law after hearing one party only that the late Rayappan Anthony is a Muslim is against all universal principles of freedom of the individual. A person's religion ought to be the religion the person professes. Not the one the authorities or the powers that be designate for him.

"About 11 months ago, we were all aghast that Madam Kaliammal, the widow of the late Corporal M. Moorthy, had no recourse to the legal system to prove that her husband in fact professed Hinduism before he died. Islamic authorities secretly obtained a Syariah Court order in the absence of the widow purporting to confirm that Moorthy was a 'Muslim,' and the Civil High Court then refused to intervene. The appeal against that decision is still before the courts.