Sisters in Islam (SIS) raises objections to the attempt by the Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) to verify the gender identity of Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman as reported in http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/jakim-to-officially-verify-nur-sajats-gender-in-one-month-process-says-lgbt. JAKIM’s action to do so is a gross violation to the rights of an individual and disparages a person’s dignity as a human being.

The arbitrary assertion of authority by JAKIM to determine a person’s gender identity raises further questions of the functions of JAKIM and the extent to which it uses its discretion to compulsively evolve its role in response to inconsequential concerns by random individuals
of the public.

SIS also raises concern on how this gender determination process will harm and affect the mental, physical and emotional well-being of Nur Sajat, who is a fully-functioning adult. Nur Sajat deserves to be regarded and treated with respect and dignity as a fellow Malaysian, just like any other.

Sisters in Islam demands that JAKIM ceases this gender determination exercise and we call upon all institutions and members of the public to check their own prejudices, intolerance and fear-mongering against innocent individuals.

Sisters in Islam
23 January 2018