Fines, Imprisonment, and Brainwashing

Recently, one of the house churches from our project in Malaysia was raided by the police. The two main leaders were brought to court in Sabah and found guilty of “spreading heresy, seduction, and conversion of Muslims away from Islam.” They faced six and twelve months in prison.

Both have applied for the sentence to be converted into a fine totaling 35,000 Malaysian ringgit – equivalent to just under 7,000 CHF and an average annual salary in Malaysia. The sentence reduction for one of the main leaders, a hospital department head, has been approved. However, he must also complete a three-month rehabilitation program. The other main leader, an ustadz (Islamic religious teacher), is still waiting for a decision on whether his one-year prison sentence will be converted into a fine. His hearing has been postponed.

What is controversial is that the two main leaders are middle-class Malaysians and not just “simple, undocumented sea gypsies.” Of course, this does not suit the government at all, and it wants to set an example. All other members of the house church must pay fines of 3,000 ringgit (around 600 CHF) each and complete six months of Islamic religious education.