With utmost respect to the advice issued by the sultan of Selangor on 20 June through His Royal Highness’ official Facebook page, SIS Forum (Malaysia) formally announces it has decided to drop the word Islam from its public-facing name.
The decision was made following an extraordinary general meeting held on 11 July. From now on, we will sign off as SIS Forum (Malaysia), the organisation’s registered name.
Prior to this, “Sisters in Islam” was used as SIS’ pen name to reflect its role as an organisation that advocates for justice and equality for Muslim women in Malaysia and its belief that Islam is a just and compassionate religion.
“Even as we drop the word Islam from our pen name, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for gender equality and justice in Islamic family law. At the end of the day, it is the work we do for Muslim women and for Malaysian citizens that matters most,” said Rozana Isa, the executive director of SIS Forum (Malaysia).
Our work continues
“Unfortunately, for too long, our work has been misrepresented and misunderstood by some quarters. We are not here to challenge Islam, but to ask that laws meant to protect women do not fail them.
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“Issues such as unpaid nafkah (maintenance), divorce and polygamy done outside of court processes, rising cases of domestic violence, and the lack of gender-sensitive interpretation of Islamic legal provisions continue to affect Muslim women across the country. These concerns are real and systemic. They demand attention, not dismissal.
“We hope this puts an end to the long-standing contention over our name and allows us to go forward in good faith with all parties,” said Rozana. “Women are equal in the eyes of God. Surely, they must also be seen and treated as equal in the eyes of men.”
SIS Forum (Malaysia) remains committed to upholding the rights of Muslim women, engaging in meaningful reform, and working alongside scholars, community leaders and institutions to ensure that no woman is left behind in the pursuit of justice. – SIS Forum
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