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Suffice to say this could increase religious tensions in the country — but it should also be expected of a country that claims to be moderate. Suffice to also say that such a decision in a Muslim nation — because of all the accompanying pressures — is rare. More:

“Othman Ibrahim, Penang Sharia Court judge, said he had no choice but to allow an application by Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah, a Malaysian citizen of Chinese origin, to renounce her faith and return to Buddhism.


…Siti Fatimah or Tan Ean Huang, 38, said she had never practised Islam since she converted in 1998 and only did so to enable her to marry Iranian Ferdoun Ashanian.


The couple married in 2004 but since then her husband has left her following which she filed for the renunciation.


Othman said it was clear from witnesses and the evidence presented that Siti had continued to practise Buddhism even after her conversion.


He rebuked the state council for not counselling and looking after the welfare of new converts.


‘In this case, it is clear that the council has failed to live up to its responsibilities and the outcome is clear for all to see,’ he said.”

That rebuke is particularly interesting: Almost as if to shield the inevitable criticism of allowing a convert to return to her original faith, the judge places blame upon the state for not making sure the convert became a good Muslim.