The Incompatibility Between Islam And Civil Liberties

The Incompatibility Between Islam And Civil Liberties



Raja Petra Kamarudin


In Bahasa Malaysia it is called serasi, a word which many Malaysians may have never used before. In English, it is called compatibility — or in the case of today’s article, the incompatibility between Islam and civil liberties.

A week ago I sat down with an imam in one of Manchester’s mosques to discuss certain Malaysian Islamic ‘practices’ (and the smile on the imam’s face gave the impression that ‘weird practices’ may have been more appropriate).


This imam has been to Malaysia before — so he understands Malaysia’s ‘different’ ways of practicing Islam and the condescending and holier-than-thou attitude of Malaysian Muslims (lebih Islam dari orang Islam yang lain).

Actually it is not only Malays, but Indian Muslims who have this problem as well. And considering that Malays were ‘Islamised’ by Indians (and not by Persians, Turks, or Saudis) this is the reason why Malays and Indian Muslims share the same DNA.

Anyway, if you feel insulted with what I just said, then good, because it was intended as an insult. And Malaysian Muslims deserve to be looked down by Muslims of other countries because Malaysian Muslims bikin tak serupa cakap.

Okay, I sound irritated, and I am. And I am irritated because Malaysian Muslims (be they from PKR, Umno, PAS, Bersatu, Pejuang, Muda, Putera, or from whatever political party they may come from) do not walk the talk or tak bikin serupa cakap.

Take the Great Muslim Reformer, Anwar Ibrahim (who used to be called an ‘Islamist Firebrand’ before he was jailed twice for sodomy), who is also Malaysia’s opposition leader, as a perfect example.

He talks about Islam, adeen, reforms, democracy, and civil liberties in the same sentence.


How can you use Islam, adeen, reforms, democracy, and civil liberties in the same sentence? That is utter nonsense! Anwar Ibrahim is taking Malaysians for a ride. Islam, adeen, reforms, democracy, and civil liberties are not compatible. Tak serasi!

Anwar (as well as PKR, Umno, PAS, Bersatu, Pejuang, Muda, Putera, etc.) need to be honest with Malaysians. They are NOT fighting for Islam, adeen, reforms, democracy, and civil liberties. They are conning Malaysians.

Let me give you one example. Islam and adeen mean NO gay unions. Democracy and civil liberties mean you have absolute freedom to live life the way you want. So it is either one or the other, and not all at the same time.

So please stop talking about reforms, democracy, and civil liberties if you wish to place Islam as supreme. Reforms, democracy, and civil liberties mean Islam cannot dictate what you do, and that you can do whatever you want, whether Islamic or not.