Who Is Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah?

Answer: She is an ethnic Chinese from Penang who converted to Islam in 1999 to marry an Iranian. The majority of ethnic Chinese in Malaysia are non-Muslims, although the number of converts are increasing. Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah was originally born Tan Ean Huang, but converted on 25th July 1998 to marry an Iranian named Ferdoun Ashanian.

"It is clear that the plantiff does not practise Islamic teachings since the beginning and the court rules that the plantiff is no longer a Muslim according to Section 61(3)b(x) of the Penang Syariah Court Procedure Enactment 2004."
--Perlis Syariah Chief Judge Othman Ibrahim

The significance is that she is the first living non-Muslim to be allowed by the Syariah Court to revert to her former religion. Her affidavit stated that at no point of time did she practise the religion of Islam. Bernama hailed it as "the first in Malaysia involving a living plaintiff and under syariah court's jurisdiction".

Datin Seri Wan Azizah was reported, saying: "It is her right to return to her original religion." Whereas the learned judge had opined that apostasy can occur in three instances, i.e. action, speech and faith that go against Islamic teachings. He gave the example of worshipping something besides Allah, denying Allah's existence and allowing things forbidden.

Further Reading:

• Bernama, "Syariah Court Declares Siti Fatimah No Longer Muslim" -- 8th May 2008, 5.35pm


• The Star, Zahid: Accept Syariah Court's decision on convert -- 8th May 2008, 7.48pm