YOURSAY | Wrong to ‘manipulate’ children in conversion row

[superadmin]

BobbyO: How can children below their natural intelligent age understand the consent to change their religion?

How can Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin resort to such an activity by trying to “bribe” the young children (14-year-old twin girls and 10-year-old boy) to change their beliefs?

They should be returned to their mother, Loh Siew Hong, and when they reach the age of a consenting adult, then only should the question be put to them.

Even God won't approve of such an act. He had created humans to think freely and give them the ability to decide for themselves.

The mufti should have known better than to manipulate young children.

Dr Raman Letchumanan: The children were held “captive” or “protected” by the authorities from anyone, not even the mother, who has custodial rights, could visit them without permission.

All of a sudden, a man turns up, brings food, asks the children questions which they are not capable of understanding, apparently getting them to answer in front of a video camera (not sure if the answer was coerced), and broadcasts it to the public.

No decent human being would do such a despicable act to children. If he is man enough, he would have done it in public in the presence of others and also accord the same opportunity to the mother who is denied meeting, hugging, feeding or talking to the children.

Malaysia could answer for this at the UN Human Rights Council next. Meanwhile, let decent human beings judge this act.

Hrrmph: What is the point of the Perlis mufti asking the children if they have been coerced into becoming Muslims? Are the children old enough to know what religion they wish to profess?

Children cannot convert without the consent of their parents, so asking them and posting the video online is beyond unconscionable.

Would these Muslims agree to it if the same thing was done to their children in another country, such as conversion to Christianity without their consent?

Except that this kind of nonsense is not imposed anywhere else in the world. Only in Malaysia and some other Muslim countries.

Once converted, willingly or by subterfuge, one cannot convert back without being hounded out of the country.

Even when these people have no faith. If such a Muslim professes that God is Almighty, these conversions are doing Him no service. He sees what’s in our hearts.

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