Torture* - The Jacksons

Definition of "torture" as provided for in the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment:-

"...means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity...".

(Emphasis added)

It was reported in the local papers recently (see here) that our PM said he "had not heard of people being tortured at religious rehabilitation centres, and brushed off such claims as wild allegations".

I'm surprised at that (altho a lot of me mates will still wonder why i shud still be). Hasn't he heard of Revathi? We had a candlelight vigil for her not too long ago. Her plight was reported in BBC recently too (see here). It reported that a "... Malaysian woman held for months in an Islamic rehabilitation centre says she was subjected to mental torture for insisting her religion is Hinduism".

Her case was highlighted in the "NOTE OF PROTEST BY THE MALAYSIAN CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL OF BUDDHISM, CHRISTIANITY, HINDUISM,SIKHISM & TAOISM (MCCBCHST)":-

“Rehabilitative” detention is exactly what is happening to Revathi, an ethnic Indian born to parents who had converted to Islam before her birth, who went to the Syariah court for an order permitting her to leave Islam. Revathi says she is a Hindu. She has married her Hindu husband, Suresh, under Hindu rites. They have one daughter, now aged about 15 months.

Revathi’s marriage cannot be registered, and the child’s birth also remains unregistered, because the State refuses to sanction their union. Revathi does not therefore have the protections of civil marriage laws, whilst the child is subject to the social stigma and the lower degree of protections afforded to an illegitimate child.

Revathi went to the Melaka Syariah High Court in its civil jurisdiction for an order allowing her to leave Islam. Instead of getting that order, it appears that the Islamic court exercised its criminal jurisdiction over her by sending her to a detention camp in a different State for “rehabilitation” for 100 days. That detention period was then extended by another 80 days in her absence. Non Muslims are not allowed to visit her in the detention camp, and her Hindu husband is grudgingly and quietly allowed very limited access. In the meanwhile, her Muslim mother obtained a Syariah Court order granting her custody of the 15 month old baby and together with the police enforced that order on Suresh’s Hindu family. The baby is now with the grandmother, the mother is in detention and the father is heartbroken.

(And to think there were those who were saying that Muslims who want to convert out of Islam can approach the Syariah Courts without fear!!!).

Yet, either our learned PM is totally ignorant or he just couldn't care less. His reply sounded like how one would just brush aside frivolous statements. Revathi exists!!!! If she does not, the government should inform the public. If she does, the government should answer the allegations made on her behalf. The silence only goes to support the credibility of the said reports. And prolong her torture.

*The first song on their 1984 album released for CBS, the only album to feature all 6 members on it!