Malaysian Authorities Raid Religious Center and Detain 226 People Over Suspected Shia Rituals

Malaysian Authorities Raid Religious Center and Detain 226 People Over Suspected Shia Rituals
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Malaysian authorities in Selangor detained 226 people during a raid on a religious center in the Lagoon Perdana area of Petaling Jaya over suspected participation in Shia religious rituals.

The operation was carried out on Thursday evening, coinciding with the eve of Ashura, by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department with the involvement of around 120 officers from the department and five other government agencies. Authorities said the raid followed information received from members of the public about activities taking place at the center.

Datuk Muhammad Shahzihan Ahmad, director of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, said the operation began at 9:34 p.m. and resulted in the detention of 147 men, 51 women, and 28 children. He said those detained were Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi nationals who were participating in religious ceremonies inside the building.

Officials said the action was taken under the Selangor Islamic Criminal Offences Enactment of 1995, and that investigations are continuing into possible violations of state religious regulations.

The raid, which coincided with Shia Muslims’ commemoration of Ashura, has sparked renewed debate over religious freedom and the rights of religious minorities in Malaysia, where restrictions on certain religious practices have remained a subject of controversy.