Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz has sought help from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, saying she was tired of the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department’s antics to continue its pursuit of her in the courts. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — Borders bookstore’s Muslim employee Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz pleaded with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong today to save her from a religious authority that appears bent on punishing her for selling a book deemed as unIslamic.

Nik Raina said she was tired of the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department’s (JAWI) antics to continue its pursuit of her in the courts, adding that such antics do not benefit anyone and was putting a lot of pressure on her.

Begging the country’s leaders to keep an eye on JAWI’s actions, Nik Raina also sought the country’s ruler’s intervention.

“I plead with His Highness Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the head of religion for the Federal Territory to reproach JAWI to have wisdom in its actions. On this feeling of pasrah (surrender), I ask that my own freedom be returned. I ask that my rights under the Federal Constitution be upheld,” she wrote in a statement titled “JAWI, tolong lepaskan saya dari penindasan ini!” (JAWI, please free me from this oppression!)

In an ordeal stretching almost three years for Nik Raina, JAWI had arrested her in 2012 well before the book was effectively banned, later charging her over the selling of the book it deemed had violated Islamic laws.

The civil High Court and the Court of Appeal have since ruled in Nik Raina’s favour, while the Shariah High Court discharged her last month from a charge that could have landed her in jail for up to two years or resulted in a maximum RM3,000 fine or a combination of both.

But just when it seemed that Nik Raina was finally free from the Shariah criminal offence, JAWI filed for appeal in the Shariah Appeal Court on March 9.

Today, Nik Raina said she had thought that her humiliation was finally over after all three courts stood on her side, but said her happiness was short-lived when JAWI notified her on March 12 of its appeal.

Puzzled over JAWI’s action, Nik Raina asked if the Chief Syarie Prosecutor attached to JAWI was disrespecting the orders from the civil and Shariah courts in her favour.

Among other court decisions, she cited the Court of Appeal’s ruling that JAWI had acted unconstitutionally and illegally, as well as its order that all prosecution against her be discontinued.

While saying that her employer had generously come to her aid, Nik Raina said it was “unfair” that Borders had to unnecessarily foot a high bill to defend her in both courts due to JAWI’s prosecution.

“I also feel ashamed to continue burdening my employer with all the expenses that should not have been borne in the past three years and that will now drag on with JAWI’s latest action.

She also said she would not be able to afford the legal fees if Borders did not support her or if she was not working with the bookstore, adding that JAWI’s actions had dimmed her future.

“Any employer will not want to hire me if they knew about my situation. My opportunity to improve my career has been affected. This is my dilemma that JAWI never thought of,” she said.

Earlier in her statement, Nik Raina also said her freedom has been taken away from her for the past three years, with the humiliating label of “accused” sticking with her in the Shariah court.

She also spoke of the public’s perception that she had insulted Islam when she was merely working in a legitimate job, with her life and her family’s life allegedly being cast in a dark cloud since the 2012 arrest and prosecution.

“Apakah lagi yang JAWI mahukan terhadap diri saya? (What more does JAWI want from me)” she asked in ending her emotional plea today.