> > Malaysia backs down from yoga ban amid backlash Posted by admin Thursday, > 27 November 2008 09:26 By Jalil Hamid, Reuters Malaysia's prime minister > said Wednesday Muslims should still take up yoga, reversing an outright > ban that has drawn widespread protests amid concerns over growing Islamic > fundamentalism in the multiracial nation. Malaysia's National Fatwa > Council, comprising Islamic scholars, told Muslims at the weekend to avoid > yoga because it uses Hindu prayers that could erode Muslims' faith. But > the decision drew a sharp rebuke from many Muslims and even Malaysia's > sultans, or hereditary rulers, who said that they should be consulted on > any matters involving Islam. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi moved to > contain the damage, telling the national news agency Bernama that Muslims > could carry on doing yoga but minus the chanting. "I wish to state that a > physical regime with no elements of worship can continue, meaning, it is > not banned. I believe that Muslims are not easily swayed into polytheism," > he said. Just before Abdullah spoke, the eldest son of the ruler of the > central Negeri Sembilan state took the government to task over the yoya > ruling. "Islam is a progressive religion and the ulama (scholars) should > be confident of the followers' faith rather than micro-managing their way > of life," Tunku Naquiyuddin told a luncheon. "If I go to a church or a > Buddhist temple, is there any fear of me converting? ... Where do we draw > the line?" the online version of the Star newspaper quoted him as saying. > The yoga fatwa ruling came hot on the heels of another edict against young > Muslim women wearing trousers. Fatwas or religious edicts are not legally > binding, but they are highly influential in Malaysia, where Malay-Muslims > form just over half of the country's 27 million people. The fatwa council > has said that by wearing trousers, girls risked becoming sexually active > "tomboys." Gay sex is outlawed in Malaysia. Malaysia's sizeable minorities > include ethnic Chinese and Indians who practice either Christianity, > Buddhism or Hinduism. http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/15370/84/ > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live Hotmail now works up to 70% faster. > http://windowslive.com/Explore/Hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_faster_112008
