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Southeast Asia

Malaysia detains 2 Americans for 'distributing religious pamphlets'

2005-04-28

Malaysian police detained two Americans for allegedly handing out Christian religious pamphlets to Muslims near a mosque, officials said Wednesday. The two men were arrested during a routine police patrol for "disturbing the peace in a religious manner" Monday in Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital just south of Kuala Lumpur, a district police official said on condition of anonymity. Details of the men's identities were not immediately available. Proselytizing of Muslims by members of other religions is prohibited in Malaysia, a moderate, predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian country. Police obtained a court order to detain the suspects for up to two weeks for questioning, the official said, adding that they were also being investigated for not having travel documents with them when the arrest occurred. It was not immediately clear what offense the men could be charged with, he said. A US Embassy officer visited the two men Wednesday, said embassy spokesman Frank Whitaker.

Posted by:Fred

#6 While I can certainly see the unreasonable aspect of this whole episode, I have to say that these people being detained, had they indeed engaged in the actions the Malaysians say they did, should get no external help from U.S. officials. A visitor or visitors to a country are subject to its laws, whatever they may be, and should one violate that law knowingly, they are at the mercy of those responsible for law and order (or lack of). If this sounds too harsh, then the proper solution is, DON'T GO THERE IF YOU CAN'T ABIDE BY THEIR LAWS.

Case closed.

Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-04-28 8:50:52 PM

#5 SF: Let's just blanket the country using the USAF. No need to get the Marines involved in "light work."

Posted by: BA 2005-04-28 10:22:22 AM

#4 I've got a number of citations for âdisturbing the peace in a religious mannerâ that need distributing. I hear the USMC is good at that sort of delivery.

Posted by: Seafarious 2005-04-28 9:09:01 AM

#3 When it comes to fryin' up radical muzzies, moderation is for monks. A take-off on a quote by Lazarus Long.

Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-04-28 7:27:44 AM

#2 I'm a moderate, too, of the non-Muzzy fry 'em up variety. Moderation is nice.

Posted by: .com 2005-04-28 2:13:40 AM

#1 Proselytizing of Muslims by members of other religions is prohibited in Malaysia, a moderate, predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian country.

Whew! For a second there I was beginning to think it was a radical country.

Posted by: Kirk 2005-04-28 2:03:05 AM

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