BANGKOK (UCAN) — Police on July 14 night detained nine Christians, all in their 20s, for attempting to convert Muslims in a university campus. The Christians have denied the accusation.
Five Muslim students lodged a police report after claiming they were given pamphlets on Christianity at University Putra Malaysia in Serdang, just south of Kuala Lumpur, local media reported. The Christian youths were released on bail.
Annou Xavier, the Christian youths’ lawyer, told UCA News the nine were only visiting their friends on campus when they were detained. He added that of the nine, two are students from the university, three are local youths, and four are youths from Hong Kong. Local media said the nine are members of a Christian organization.
Xavier said police are investigating the matter and the youths have to report on July 23 to the police to face the charges. He noted that the police are often quick to act on allegations of attempts to convert Muslims.
Local media said the nine might have been mistakenly arrested because several people were earlier reportedly distributing Christian material on the campus grounds.
In Muslim-majority Malaysia, it is forbidden to proselytize Muslims, and Muslims are not allowed to convert to another religion.
Originally published in UCAN News, 15 July 2009
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