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Organiser of KL pet-a-dog event attacked online

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian organiser of a controversial pet-a-dog event that saw many Malay Muslims touching a dog for the first time has become the subject of death threats and accusations of apostasy online amid public ire from some Malay Muslims and Islamic leaders.

Muslims and non-Muslims animal lovers attend the ‘I want to touch a dog’ event in Central Park, Bandar Utama, Oct 19, 2014. Photo: The Malay Mail Online

Muslims and non-Muslims animal lovers attend the ‘I want to touch a dog’ event in Central Park, Bandar Utama, Oct 19, 2014. Photo: The Malay Mail Online

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KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian organiser of a controversial pet-a-dog event that saw many Malay Muslims touching a dog for the first time has become the subject of death threats and accusations of apostasy online amid public ire from some Malay Muslims and Islamic leaders.

The event, I Want to Touch a Dog, held last Sunday at Central Park 1 Utama, near Petaling Jaya in Kuala Lumpur, drew more than 1,000 people, reported the Malaysian Insider.

Its organiser, Mr Syed Azmi Alhabshi, 30, has said he wanted to help Malay Muslims overcome their fear of dogs and promote compassion for animals.

Several Malay Muslims and senior Islamic clerics, however, have criticised it, saying it was “haram” or forbidden for Muslims to touch dogs, as the animals are considered unclean.

Malaysia’s foremost Islamic authority, JAKIM, on Monday said it was launching an investigation of the event and would call in Mr Syed Azmi for questioning.

Most of the online threats were posted as comments on a Facebook post written by freelance preacher Mohd Kazim Elias, who condemned the event.

“I agree with the ustaz (preacher) and believe this organiser cannot differentiate between what is right and wrong, has a shallow understanding of religion, likes to destroy Islam and should be stoned to death,” said a Facebook user known as Ghas Ku.

In his Facebook post, the preacher had accused the programme of being a subtle attempt to introduce “liberal” and “pluralistic” ideas among Muslims, adding that it would give way to campaigns on touching and eating pigs.

Another Facebook user, Mr Yusoff Hj Ashaari, said that on top of taking action against Mr Syed Azmi, the public should find some of the women who posed with the dogs at the event, and pull off their headscarves to see if they wore crucifixes or were concealing tattoos.

A washing ritual called “sertu” was held at the end of the event for those who patted the dogs.

Mr Syed Azmi’s mobile number has also been circulated online, while on WhatsApp, messages claiming he is a Christian in disguise have also been popularly shared.

The Selangor Islamic Religious Council, which approved the event, said it had been misled and that the organisers had deviated from their proposed objective of educating Muslims on the position of dogs in the faith.

Several of the country’s senior Islamic clerics have also raised concerns, citing the rules of Shafi’e teachings as practised in the country.

On Tuesday, the opposition Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) leader, Mr Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, voiced his displeasure, remarking that Mr Syed Azmi had “worms in his head”.

Yesterday, Mr Sobri Osman, the director of a Kedah Muslim group known as the Persatuan Jemaah Pondok-Pondok Kedah, called on the authorities to ensure such an event was not held again, saying it was an insult to Islam. AGENCIES

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