Thursday May 8, 2008 MYT 12:39:35 PM

Court allows Muslim convert to return to Buddhism

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Syariah Court on Thursday allowed Muslim convert Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah (Tan Ean Hung) to return to Buddhism.

The court criticised the state religious council for not ensuring Siti Fatimah practised Islam.

Siti Fatimah, 39, had filed an application to renounce Islam at the Syariah High Court here in May 2006.

In her affidavit, Siti Fatimah claimed she converted to Islam in July 1998 for the sake of marrying an Iranian named Ferdoun Ashanian in 1999.

She claimed Ferdoun left her a few months after their marriage and she stopped practising Islam. She also said she has no knowledge of his whereabouts.

Siti Fatimah said she had maintained her Buddhist leanings and prayed to deities like Tua Pek Kong, Kuan Yin and Thi Kong.