UPDATED ON:
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
17:38 Mecca time, 14:38 GMT
 
Programmes EVERYWOMAN
The crime of apostasy
Siti Fatimah was born a Muslim but married a Hindu
In this episode of Everywoman, we examine the crime of apostasy; how a baby can be torn from its parents because a Muslim woman dared to marry a non-Muslim.

Religious freedom in Malaysia has been under the spotlight recently, with a string of disputes involving the country's non-Muslim minorities.
 
The most high-profile case is that of Siti Fatimah; she was born a Muslim but she married a Hindu man out of love. She calls herself Revathi, a Hindu name, and together the couple have a 15 month old baby girl.

Their daughter has been
taken from them
But because she was living as a Hindu, Siti has been accused of apostasy - or deserting her religion. She has been detained at a rehabilitation centre, and her baby has been taken away.
 
Her husband Suresh, who is banned from seeing both his wife and child, spoke to Everywoman about the battle to win back his family.

Joining Shiulie Ghosh to discuss the issue is Zainah Anwar from Sisters In Islam, and Farid Suffian Shuaib, a law lecturer at Malaysia's International Islamic University.
 
Watch this episode of Everywoman here:
 
 

 
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