We Re Not Sorry For Controversial Punishment Says Mosque Official

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A screen grab from a video of the youth being ‘bathed like a corpse’ after being caught stealing from the mosque’s donation box. He was later jailed 10 days and fined RM4,000 for the offence.RAWANG: The committee of a mosque whose former imam sparked an outcry on social media over his controversial method of punishment said it would not issue an open apology, despite calls to do so.
Rosli Sidek, the grandfather of the teenager Daniel Iskandar Mohd Nasir – who was washed in the same manner in which a corpse is bathed before burial – said his former son-in-law wanted to take legal action, apart from demanding an apology from the mosque for humiliating his son.
“He wants to sue. He has engaged a lawyer,” Rosli told FMT, referring to Daniel Iskandar’s father.
However, one of the committee members at Al-Islahiah Mosque in Kuang, here, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they have met Daniel’s father and that he has no problem with them.
Commenting on the now viral video, the committee member said they did not consider it to be a form of abuse as they wanted to teach the teen a lesson.
The committee member also said they did not circulate the video, although they were attempting to track the individual responsible for doing so.
“Our intention was to help the boy, but the one who made it an issue was the person who shared the video and caused it to go viral.”
The committee member went on to express hope that the imam in the centre of the controversy – known as Ustaz Dahlan – would be allowed to return.
“We just want to resolve this, as it will embarrass the entire village. Even when we are telling the truth, outsiders have a negative impression of us.”
Dahlan had punished the teen after the latter was caught stealing money belonging to the mosque and hid it in the mortuary bathroom.
Yesterday, Selangor executive councillor Zawawi Ahmad Mughni, who handles religious affairs, told FMT that the imam had been asked to resign.
On Thursday, Daniel was sentenced to jail for 10 days and fined RM4,000 by the Selayang magistrates’ court for stealing mosque funds.
He faces five month’s in jail if he is unable to pay the fine. However, Amanah Youth have since offered to pay the RM4,000 fine.
The teen, who lives with his grandfather following his parents’ divorce, had stolen the money belonging to the mosque and hid it in the mortuary bathroom.
According to his lawyer, the youth stole the money to buy medicines for his grandfather. - FMT

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