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Ayah Pin’s wives charged

The Star, Malasia
Nov. 23, 2005
thestar.com.my

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Wednesday November 23, 2005

BESUT: Three wives of Sky Kingdom sect leader Ariffin Mohamad, better known as Ayah Pin, were charged in the Lower Syariah Court here with being followers of deviant teachings.

They were his second wife Che Jaharah Awang, 45, third wife Ruzilan Mukhtar, 41, and fourth wife Nik Kamariah Nik Pah, 33.

The three were charged under Section 10 of the Syariah Criminal Offence Enactment (Takzir) Terengganu 2001 for staying at the sect’s commune in Kampung Batu 13 in Hulu Besut on July 20.

By staying at the commune, they allegedly showed contempt to the state religious authorities as well as violated the state fatwa (edict), which declared the teachings as deviant in December 1997.

Judge Wan Abdul Malik Wan Sidek fixed trial for April 11, 2006, after all three pleaded not guilty. He also extended the RM1,500 bail offered to each of them.

The three were detained in a house in Kampung Sungai Pinang in Tumpat in Kelantan on July 31.

Sky Kingdom

The Sky Kingdom is a quasi-religious interfaith commune located in the eastern Malaysian state of Terengganu.

While Malaysia has a secular legal system, the country is ruled by a moderate Muslim majority.

“Muslims in Malaysia come under the purview of religious courts that are not part of the secular federal legal system. Any attempt to deviate from Islamic teachings, or to leave the religion, can bring harsh penalties from the religious courts.” [Source]

Sky Kingdom leader Ayah Pin claims to be a deity

The group includes former Muslims

Research resources on Sky Kingdom

They were taken to the court the following day and released on bail pending re-mention of the case yesterday.

Last week, Nik Kamariah was charged in the court for a similar offence, but on a different date, July 2.

She is also scheduled to appear in the same court on Dec 6 with two other sect followers to face a charge under Section 14 of the enactment for possessing documents that humiliated Islamic teachings.

The religious department is on the lookout for Ayah Pin’s first wife Che Minah Remeli, 58, who went missing after the commune was attacked by a mob on July 18.