PETALING JAYA:The Syariah Court today discharged and acquitted ZI Publications Sdn Bhd director Mohd Ezra Mohd Zaid on charges related to publishing a book seven years ago, deemed to be against Islamic law.
This follows the decision of Syariah Lower Court Judge Shukran Yusof to reject the prosecution’s application to grant Mohd Ezra a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.
Shukran said that after studying the oral and written submission of both prosecution and defence, he found that if the accused was granted a discharge not amounting to acquittal, it would turn into an academic issue.
“There is nothing that can be done by the prosecution for investigations and so on, because this case is not valid starting from the arrest. The Selangor Syariah prosecution chief’s decision to prosecute was quashed by the Court of Appeal, and any appeal to the Federal Court is no longer allowed.
“Hence, if I proceed with what is being applied for, then it will be pointless. Therefore, I discharge and acquit the accused,” he said.
Shukran said that the court, however, allowed the prosecution’s second application to forfeit 180 books entitled 'Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta' from the accused or related parties, and to surrender them to the religious enforcement chief for further action.
Mohd Ezra was charged in the Lower Syariah Court here in 2013 in relation to the publication of the Canadian author Irshad Manji’s book of the same title.
On May 29, 2012, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) raided ZI Publications’ office at B-2-19, Merchant Square, Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1, PJU 3 here and seized 180 copies of the books. Mohd Ezra was also arrested.
ZI Publications and Mohd Ezra then filed a judicial review application to challenge the raid carried out by JAIS. On March 7, 2018 the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed their application and they later brought the matter to the Court of Appeal.
On Sept 29, the Selangor syariah prosecution could not proceed with the case against Mohd Ezra. This followed the Federal Court’s refusal to grant leave against the Court of Appeal’s ruling quashing the Selangor Syariah prosecution chief’s decision to prosecute Mohd Ezra in the Shariah Court for the publication, distribution and possession of Irshad Manji’s book.
Shukran, in his ruling, also said that the court dismissed the prosecution’s application requesting an additional order for the accused or his agent to be barred from commenting on the case in any form of media.
“Referring to Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which touches on freedom of speech, as long as the statement has no defamatory element then it is allowed,” he said, and ordered Mohd Ezra’s bail of RM1,000 to be returned to him.
On Dec 9, the prosecution submitted an application, among others, for the accused to be granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on the charges, following the Federal Court’s decision in the civil case filed by Mohd Ezra in relation to the publication of the book.
Mohd Ezra when met by reporters after the proceedings, said he was happy because the case had been resolved.
“I am grateful to my lawyer in this case and I am relieved that this case has been resolved, but there is still one unfinished matter in the civil court for damages," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Dec 17 2020
![Mohd Ezra acquitted of publishing book deemed against Islamic law Mohd Ezra acquitted of publishing book deemed against Islamic law](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/61608202847_MohdEzraagainst.jpg)
Mohd Ezra was charged in the Lower Syariah Court in 2013 in relation to the publication of the Canadian author Irshad Manjis' book of the same title.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Isu taksiran ganti rugi berhubung pendakwaan salah terhadap Ezra Zaid selesai - Peguam Isu taksiran ganti rugi berhubung pendakwaan salah terhadap Ezra Zaid selesai - Peguam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/71642064868_MohdEzraagainst.jpg)
Isu taksiran ganti rugi berhubung pendakwaan salah terhadap Ezra Zaid selesai - Peguam
Perkara itu dimaklumkan peguam Fahri Azzat, yang mewakili Mohd Ezra, ketika dihubungi pemberita selepas prosiding secara dalam talian di hadapan Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid.
![Mohd Ezra, JAIS cuba selesai taksiran ganti rugi secara baik - Peguam Mohd Ezra, JAIS cuba selesai taksiran ganti rugi secara baik - Peguam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/61608202847_MohdEzraagainst.jpg)
Mohd Ezra, JAIS cuba selesai taksiran ganti rugi secara baik - Peguam
JAIS sebelum ini menyerbu premis perniagaan ZI Publications serta merampas 180 buku bertajuk 'Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta' karya penulis warga Kanada Irshad Manji dan Mohd Ezra turut ditahan.