Malaysia
High Court orders controversial Muslim preacher Firdaus Wong to remove conversion video for minors from TikTok pending trial
Chinese Muslim preacher Firdaus Wong is seen ‘livestreaming’ a lecture on Islam from Temerloh in Pahang during the High Court decision in Kuala Lumpur on October 3, 2024. — Screen grab from Facebook/Firdaus Wong Wai Hung

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Controversial Chinese Muslim preacher Firdaus Wong was today ordered by the High Court here to temporarily take down a TikTok video said to provide advice to minors on how to embrace Islam without their parents’ knowledge or consent.

Judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh ruled on the ex-parte injunction that had been filed by several non-Muslim parents to maintain the status quo during ongoing legal proceedings, news portal Malaysiakini reported this morning.

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"The court has set Oct 17 for inter parte hearing,” lawyer M. Visvanathan, representing the non-Muslim parents, was quoted as saying.

He added that the interim ruling is to allow the preacher who goes by the moniker "Bro Firdaus Wong” on social media, the opportunity to respond to the injunction.

According to Malaysiakini, the court has yet to set a date for a full hearing regarding the merits of the case that was filed on July 18.

The case dates back to June when Firdaus allegedly posted a video in which he advised a man on handling requests for conversion from non-Muslim teenagers who purportedly wished to embrace Islam without their parents finding out.

Firdaus reportedly suggested that such teens who want to become Muslims should do so discreetly without registering their conversions, which triggered uproar among non-Muslims as the Federal Court had previously set the precedent that the conversion of minors requires the knowledge and consent of both parents.

Malaysiakini reported one concerned parent expressing their fears about the potential secret conversion of their children in the affidavit.

"I emphasise that this is due to the risk of our underaged children’s religion being changed without our knowledge as parents of non-Muslim underaged children.”

The parent further argued that failing to prevent such covert proselytisation could pose risks to the physical and mental well-being of their children, and might disrupt national harmony.

Through the lawsuit, the non-Muslim parents seek to prevent Firdaus from advising underaged non-Muslim children on converting to Islam.

They had sought the removal of the controversial TikTok video.

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