Forced conversions and arrests
Minorities unable to obtain citizenship
CIP (06.04.2001) / HRWF International Secretariat (08.05.2001) - Website: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net - Reacting to information published by other countries, the Sultanates authorities in Brunei have confirmed holding since the end of last year three of their citizens accused of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. The country of Brunei is situated within eastern Malaysia, on the island of Borneo.
According to Bruneis bureau for interior security, 25 persons were heard, interrogated then released. The detention of three others is periodically renewed; a high-ranking police officer retired from the police force and two local businessmen. According to the Bureau for internal security, which since the end of last year has been leading a campaign against the actions of various groups of Christians on the Sultanates territory, these three men gave themselves up as guilty of activities aimed at turning Muslims away from their beliefs by the use of indirect methods.
The Brunei authorities claim that two of the three men have allegedly admitted to being Muslims converted to Christianity and to having hidden their new Christian identity, leading a double life to attract Muslims more easily towards them. According to non-official sources, one of the three men Malai Taufick, has allegedly been offered an immediate release in exchange for his return to Islam.
Furthermore, out of the 25 people heard by the police, thirteen are of a Muslim confession, and 12 are Christians, 10 belonging to the Evangelical Church of Borneo, a Protestant community founded in 1959 that does not have a legal existence in Borneo, but is active in the neighbouring Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabeh).
The Sultanate police have affirmed that this Christian group has benefited from foreign support, which has helped it to introduce propaganda material into Brunei. The activities of the group could put the religious harmony and stability of Brunei into peril as they are directed against certain Muslim parts of the country, Bruneis authorities have declared. According to the laws of Brunei, the conversion of any Muslim to another religion is strictly forbidden.
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Waddaulah governs almost 350,000 inhabitants. Brunei is an enclave of prosperity, whose riches are based on the extraction of petrol and revenues from capital placed abroad. The Sultanates population is made up of 69% Malaysians (almost all of whom are Muslims), 20% Chinese (the majority of which are Buddhists, along with a small proportion of Christians who do not have access to citizenship of the Sultanate) and 12% of native peoples. There are around 6,000 Catholics (Chinese and the indigenous communities of Iban/Dusun) without counting those who, mainly within the Philippine working population, also belong to the Catholic Church. Since the end of 1997, the Catholic Church in Brunei has been organised into an apostolic prefecture, and has been lead by Monsignor Cornelius Sim since February.
Brunei Christians suffer for government 'cult' fears
Authorities are concerned that subversive elements will bring instability
by Jeff Taylor
Compass (24.04.2001)/ HRWF International Secretariat (25.04.2001) - Website: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net - Details emerging from recent detentions and interrogations of Christians in Brunei point to a growing government concern that the growth of "cults" in this predominately-Muslim nation could lead to political and religious instability.
Seven Christians -- including two converts from Islam -- were arrested in December and January because of their suspected participation in a well-organized prayer program in Brunei, a small Southeast Asian Muslim sultanate on northern Borneo island that is surrounded on three sides by the country of Malaysia.
Yunus Murang, one of three Christians arrested in mid December, has been sentenced to two years in prison for illegally importing and possessing Indonesian Bibles. Malai Taufick Haji Malai Mashor and Mohammed Fredie Chong Abdullah, both converts from Islam, are believed to be still under detention, contrary to earlier reports that they had been released. It is not known what charges have been filed against the two former Muslims.
Four Christians arrested on January 30 were released approximately two weeks later.
In addition, an unspecified number of Christians have been called in for questioning by security police. The nature of these interrogations gives credence to reports that Brunei officials see "cult" growth as a threat to the nation's well-being. Authorities seem concerned about the possible formation of a "Christian cult" that intends to topple the government using subversive methods.
In an April 9 response faxed to British Parliamentarians who had inquired about the Brunei detainees, Brunei High Commissioner Dato Haji Yusof Hamid said the arrests were "necessary to protect religious harmony in the country."
"In Brunei Darussalam, the Constitution guarantees freedom of worship for all citizens but it does not mean undermining the majority," the commissioner wrote. "These people were involved in subversive activities directed towards misleading the majority Muslim community by deceptive means that the government believed could threaten the prevailing inter-religious harmony."
He added, "Hence, the government has taken these measures to ensure political stability, social and religious harmony in the country."
One local Christian, who did not want to be identified, said authorities questioned him about his connection to an organized prayer program. He was also asked about the nature of his relationship with the Christians arrested in December and January and with foreign pastors, including some from Malaysia. He said Internal Security Department (ISD) officials seemed satisfied that the prayer activities were not a threat to the country and released him the same day.
At the moment, however, Christians are concerned about the location of Taufick and Chong.
In late March, an ISD spokesperson, Mrs. Salbiah, said that Taufick, a member of an influential business family in Brunei, was "no longer in their custody." Taufick's wife speculated at the time that he may have been released to family members for Islamic rehabilitation. According to Brunei law, Taufick remains a Muslim, since the law does not provide for conversion of Muslims to other faiths. But his whereabouts are unknown and
it's possible he is still being held. Local sources believe Chong is also still being held.
This series of arrests and interrogations began on December 17, when Yunus Murang, a civil servant attached to the Health Department, was arrested at Taufick's home in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of Brunei. Taufick was arrested at the same time. About 50 police officers from the ISD and officers from the Religious Affairs Department conducted a thorough search and took away three bags of Bibles and Christian literature. Chong was arrested the next day.
On January 30, four more Christians were arrested: Tokching bin Ikas, an engineer with the Health Department; Mariam Murang (sister of Yunus); Mary Cheong, a dentist; and 'Ibu' Roslin, a housewife. They were released February 11, but each is required to report to police once a week, and their movements are monitored.
It is not known how many Christians have been questioned in relation to the arrests.
The "Borneo Bulletin" repeated on March 22 a Radio Television Brunei report that 25 people were under investigation in the case, 13 Muslims and 12 Christians. The report said 10 of the Christians were members of a local cult and "were found to have made secret plans to mislead many Muslims from their faith through lies."
Four days later, Malaysia's "The Sun" newspaper carried an Agence France Press report that quoted the ISD as saying that the Christians' activities were "aimed to deviate the belief of the Muslim population by deceptive means." The public was reminded to "preserve the religious harmony and stability" of the country.
Media reports initially linked Yunus Murang, Taufick and Chong and their "alleged cult activities" to the Borneo Evangelical Church (Sidang Injil Borneo, or SIB), an evangelical denomination from the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. But as members since 1984 of the National Evangelical Fellowship of Malaysia, the SIB has never been categorized as a cult.
The opposition of Brunei authorities to "cults" may be related to concerns about the Malaysia-based fundamentalist group Al-Ma'unah. Nineteen members of the Muslim sect are currently on trial for treason in neighboring Malaysia. A December 23 "News Express" report stated that "Brunei is generally free from activities of fundamentalist and cult groups, though there was another recent instance of Malaysia-based Al Mauna sect members
being rounded up and detained here."
Five Christians released in Brunei
by Jeff Taylor
Compass(01.03.2001)/ HRWF International Secretariat (02.03.2001) Website: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net -- Five of seven Christians arrested in December and January for alleged "cult" activities and detained under Brunei's Internal Security Act have been released. It was not known if any conditions were attached to their release, which occurred during the week of February 12, but they were reportedly told not to leave the country or talk about their detention, according to a source who did not want to be identified.
Two Christians remain in detention. Two other believers called in for questioning on February 22 were released the same day.
A source close to the case said the Christians were detained because of their participation in a well-organized prayer program.
Among those released in mid February were Mohammed Fredie Chong, a retired senior police officer, who was arrested on December 18; Tokching bin Ikas, an engineer with the Health Department; Mariam Murang; Mary Cheong, a dentist; and 'Ibu' Roslin, a housewife. Tokching, Murang, Cheong and Roslin were arrested on January 30. The two Christians still being held are Malai Taufick Haji Malai Mashor and Yunus Murang, who was visiting Taufick at the time of their December 17 arrest.
Mariam Murang (the sister of Yunus), Cheong and Roslin are reported to be in good spirits, despite their ordeal. While imprisoned, Cheong and Roslin fasted, prayed and sang "like Paul and Silas," a friend reported, a reference to chapter 16 of the New Testament book, "The Acts of the Apostles." Concerned prison guards asked them how they could be strong without eating.
"You people are strange. Instead of being sad, you sing," a guard is reported to have said.
Just after midnight on December 17, about 50 police officers surrounded Taufick's house in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of Brunei. Identifying themselves as officers from the Internal Security Department (ISD), they conducted a thorough search and took away three bags of "incriminating evidence": Bibles, Christian literature, audio "testimony" tapes and other Christianity-related items. They then arrested Taufick and Yunus Murang.
Yunus Murang, a civil servant attached to the Health Department, was initially accused of evangelism of Muslims in Brunei. But after ISD officers went through documents discovered in his briefcase on the night of his arrest, they detained Murang for alleged participation in religious cult activities. He has since been charged with smuggling Indonesian Bibles into the country and given a two-year prison sentence, which authorities said can be appealed as early as April.
Taufick and Chong were reportedly offered Islamic rehabilitation, as both are Muslim converts to Christianity.
A December 24 article in the "Sunday Express," a Brunei daily newspaper, closely linked the Christians and their "alleged cult activities" to the Borneo Evangelical Church (Sidang Injil Borneo, or SIB), an evangelical denomination from the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.
But leaders of the SIB told Compass that the article was misleading. As members since 1984 of the National Evangelical Fellowship of Malaysia, the SIB could not in any way be categorized as a cult, the leaders said.
Islam is the state religion in Brunei, a Southeast Asian nation on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. It is bordered on its landward side by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
Seven Christians in Brunei detained for 'cult' activities
Two Muslim converts to Christianity have been pressured
to renounce their faith
by Jeff Taylor
Compass (13.02.2001)/ HRWF International Secretariat (15.02.2001) C Website http://www.hrwf.net C Email: info@hrwf.net - Three Christians arrested in December and four Christians arrested in January for alleged "cult" activities are being detained under Brunei's Internal Security Act, which allows them to be held 60 days before they are officially charged.
A source close to the case believes the Christians are being detained because of their evangelistic activities and for their participation in a well-organized prayer program. Two of those arrested, both former Muslims, have been offered freedom if they will renounce their Christian faith and return to Islam.
Islam is the state religion in Brunei, a Southeast Asian nation on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. It is bordered on its landward side by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
Just after midnight on December 17, about 50 police officers surrounded the house of Malai Taufick Haji Malai Mashor in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of Brunei. Identifying themselves as officers from the Internal Security Department (ISD), they demanded that the occupants open the door. After storming the premises, they conducted a thorough search and took away three bags full of "incriminating evidence": Bibles, Christian literature, audio "testimony" tapes and other Christianity-related items.
They then arrested Taufick and Yunus Murang, who was visiting Taufick at the time.
The next day, ISD officers arrested a third Christian, Mohammed Fredie Chong Abdullah. But according to a well-informed source, the only link Chong had with the two men was a business deal with Taufick. While under interrogation, Chong reportedly denied any involvement with Taufick other than through business.
Chong, a 57-year-old retired senior police officer, and Taufick, a businessman belonging to a prominent business family in Brunei, have been offered Islamic rehabilitation, as both are Muslim converts to Christianity. The authorities have said that all the two men need to do to
be released is to renounce their Christian faith. Taufick, the source said, is not willing, and there is no information on Chong's response.
Yunus Murang, a civil servant attached to the Health Department, was initially accused of evangelism of Muslims in Brunei. But after ISD officers went through documents discovered in his briefcase on the night of his arrest, they detained Murang for alleged participation in religious cult activities. He has since been charged with smuggling Indonesian Bibles into the country and given a two-year prison sentence, which authorities said can be appealed as early as April.
On January 30, four more Christians were arrested: Tokching bin Ikas, an engineer with the Health Department; Mariam Murang (sister of Yunus Murang); Mary Cheong, a dentist; and 'Ibu' Roslin, a housewife. It is likely that those arrested on January 30 were implicated by the documents in Yunus Murang's briefcase.
The authorities are looking for Taufick's wife, who was out of the country on business when her husband's arrest took place. She is supposedly wanted for questioning only, but it is suspected she could also be detained. The Taufick's four young children are not currently in Brunei. Under Muslim family law, Taufick's extended family has the right to take the children from their "apostate" parents and raise them as Muslims.
A December 24 article in the "Sunday Express," a Brunei daily newspaper, closely linked the Christians and their "alleged cult activities" to the Borneo Evangelical Church (Sidang Injil Borneo, or SIB), an evangelical denomination from the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. The article alleged that the SIB had "good money and good system of propagation."
But leaders of the SIB told Compass that the article was misleading. As members since 1984 of the National Evangelical Fellowship of Malaysia, the national affiliate of the World Evangelical Fellowship, the SIB could not in any way be categorized as a cult, the leaders said.
The SIB began when three Australian missionaries of the Borneo Evangelical Mission made their first converts of the Lun Bawang people in 1928. Today, it is the largest denomination in Malaysia with a combined membership of over 200,000 mostly indigenous peoples of Borneo Island.
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