Don’t breach Constitution by banning transgender Muslims from entering mosques, religious authorities told

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — Banning transgender persons from entering mosques impedes on their rights and personal liberties as enshrined under the Federal Constitution, said women’s rights group Sisters in Islam (SIS).

In a statement today, SIS also stated that the ruling by the Perlis state religious authorities to ban transgender persons or “mukhannats” from entering mosques along with several other state religious authorities to emulate such decisions, is not justified as there is no appropriate context within Islamic teachings for such actions.

“There is no evidence from the Quran and Hadith that forbids a mukhannats from entering the mosque,” it said, referring to the Islamic scriptures.

“Therefore, the fatwa and statement of the mufti not only contradicts the Federal Constitution but in fact not in accordance with inclusive Islamic traditions.”