Loud about personal sins, but not GISB? SIS slams ‘systemic failure’ impacting ‘unseen victims’

Sisters in Islam said that GISBH benefited from its perception as an ‘Islamic’ group and called out religious authorities for their apparent lackadaisical attitude in tackling the issue. – Bernama pic, September 25, 2024


Loud about personal sins, but not GISB? SIS slams ‘systemic failure’ impacting ‘unseen victims’


Group benefited from being perceived as ‘Islamic’ which allowed them to hide ‘horrific internal abuse’ inflicted especially on women, children, says NGO


Scoop Reporters
25 September, 2024
3:43 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR – A Muslim women’s rights group has questioned religious authorities’ apparent lackadaisical attitude in tackling Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings’ (GISBH) alleged misdeeds against “unseen victims”, comprising women and children.

Stressing that Malaysia cannot stand by while such abuses are normalised, Sisters in Islam (SIS) said the organisation had benefited from its perception as an “Islamic” group.

“Religious authorities, while actively punishing personal sins, allowed these horrific atrocities to unfold and remained silent for five years – why?” SIS questioned in a statement today.

“In the end, the Islamic image portrayed by GISBH was used to blind their (religious authorities’) sharp eyes, typically focused on enforcing punitive measures for individual transgressions.

“(GISBH) benefitted from this, enabling it to hide the horrific internal abuse inflicted on its members, especially women and children.”

SIS also said that when businesses like GISBH are allowed to flourish “unchecked and defended”, it is not a case of individual wrongdoing, but instead an instance of “systematic failure” where religious justification is weaponised to excuse behaviours that should never be tolerated.

“The question remains: will we continue to focus on superficial displays of religiosity, or will we embrace the spirit of Islam and work toward a more just, compassionate and inclusive Malaysia?”

On September 14, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said action against GISBH had already begun in February 2019.

Jakim director-general Datin Hakimah Mohd Yusoff reportedly said since then, there had been 12 meetings, workshops, special task forces, and collaborations with national security agencies such as the National Security Council, Home Ministry, and police over the matter.

However, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain has since denied accusations of police delaying action against GISBH, saying that while police had investigated 41 reports on GISBH since 2011, it only made arrests now after receiving credible evidence.

Claiming that such practices allegedly perpetrated by GISBH were allowed to occur “largely” because religion in Malaysia is treated as a “taboo subject”, SIS said that the indoctrinated women would have been able to make more informed and empowered choices if they had been in an environment where open discussions on religion were encouraged.

SIS also lamented how Malaysia has drifted far from the ideals upheld in Islam, particularly on intellectual engagement, continuous learning and compassion.

“Open, respectful discourse on matters affecting the community, especially within religious institutions, is actively discouraged.

“Diverse perspectives on Islamic jurisprudence are not welcomed, as our authorities seem to favour a singular, narrow interpretation of Islam.

“Instead of fostering a society that encourages understanding and respect for diverse perspectives, we have allowed religious conservatism to dominate, leaving little room for rational debate or intellectual growth,” it said.

SIS said a “clear reason” why GISBH was allowed to thrive is due to a fear of having open and critical conversations about religion, especially when “parochial interpretations” flourish from the mainstream narrative set by authorities, and by extension, the government.

This narrative, it said, is deeply rooted in patriarchy, emphasising male superiority and the expectation that women remain subservient.

SIS also said that GISBH’s patriarchal system, where men are understood to have reaped immense benefits, caused children to suffer physical and emotional abuse while women were “enslaved, stripped of any understanding of their rights – whether under Islamic or federal law”.

“What have these women and children gone through? We will never fully grasp the extent of their suffering but can only imagine the overwhelming pain and helplessness they must have felt,” it said.

“We also must not overlook the accounts of young women being indoctrinated at universities, marrying men within the sect and being reduced to little more than slaves and reproductive machines for their husbands.

“It is inconceivable that such abuse could occur in the name of religion…this scandal raises urgent questions: how could these atrocities happen under the guise of Islam and how did we, as a society, allow this to flourish?” it queried.

SIS asserted that the tragic case of children under GISBH’s care is a “painful reminder” of what happens when a nation loses sight of its values, claiming that the nation’s “obsession with appearances” has fed into an “illusion of piety” exacerbated by political leaders.

SIS said political leaders here have embraced a brand of “political Islam” that focuses on image rather than substance by encouraging people to appear religious instead of fostering a deeper and more meaningful understanding of what it means to be a Muslim.

“Wearing a serban or attending a sekolah pondok does not automatically make one an expert on Islam, yet we seem to elevate these figures without question. This blind faith in appearances over knowledge has led us astray.

“Islam, a religion of wisdom and compassion, has been reduced to mere rituals and dress codes, while intellectual engagement and critical thought are sidelined.

“In a nation where politicians compete to ‘out-Islam’ one another, the true beauty of our multicultural, multireligious society is lost.”

SIS also aimed PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan’s statement that the drive to punish GISBH figures should not negatively affect the organisation’s business as a whole, which must be protected from those seeking to take advantage of the situation.

“Does PAS truly believe it’s acceptable to build a business empire on the suffering of abused children and women? Is PAS willing to overlook the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for the sake of protecting a business network?

“This is not just an insult to women, children, and families – it is an affront to the values of Islam itself,” SIS said.

On September 11, police raided 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan, which the authorities had linked to GISBH, and rescued 402 children while arresting hundreds of other alleged perpetrators.

Separate raids carried out on September 21 led to authorities rescuing another 187 victims, 59 of whom are aged below 5.

GISBH previously denied operating the care centres raided by authorities while distancing itself from child exploitation allegations. – September 25, 2024