Setbacks Impeding Litigation of Deviant Teachings in Cyberspace
Abstract
Disseminating religious beliefs is done via cyberspace in this modern age. However, the dissemination of deviant religious teachings such as false doctrine, false allegations, and derogatory verses of the Qur'an via cyberspace that are on the rise raises concern, especially among Malaysian authorities. These activities are punishable offenses stated under the Syariah Criminal Acts and enactments in the Syariah Courts. Notably, the complexity of cyberspace affects the management of both the civil and criminal litigation processes. In Malaysia, it affects the way of handling litigation of offences relating to deviant teachings contrary to Syariah. Using a qualitative method of document analysis and doctrinal study, the intrinsic objective of this study is to analyse the setbacks that cause difficulty in litigating cases relating to the dissemination of deviant teachings in cyberspace. In addition, it provides recommendations to overcome some of the legal issues. This study finds that several legal setbacks are within the control of the various Malaysian authorities, whereas others need international cooperation in crime deterrence. The findings show that collaborative and concerted actions are required to define deviant religious activities as global criminality. The significance of this study would encourage more comprehensive research and effort from the relevant authorities to find solutions to legal obstacles or issues.
References
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Acts/Enactments
Communications and Multimedia Act 1988 (Act 588).
Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA)
Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (POTA)
Penal Code.
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 (Johor)
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1992 (Perak)
Syariah Court Evidence (Federal Territories) Act 1997
Syariah Criminal Offence (Federal Territories) Act 1997
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Johor) 1997
Syariah Criminal Offences Ordinance (Sarawak) 2001
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Selangor) 1995
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (State of Penang) 1996.
Antoci, A., Sabatini, F., & Sodini, M. (2014). Bowling alone but tweeting together: the evolution of human interaction in the social networking era. Quality & Quantity, 48(4), 1911-1927.
Assarut, N., Bunaramrueang, P., & Kowpatanakit, P. (2019). Clustering Cyberspace Population and the tendency to Commit Cyber Crime: A Quantitative Application of Space Transition Theory. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 13(1).
Albakjaji, M. (2020). Cyberspace: The Challenge of Implementing a Global Legal Framework the Impacts of Time & Space Factors. Research Article: 2020 Vol: 23 Issue: 4. https://www.abacademies.org/articles/cyberspace-the-challenge-of-implementing-a-global-legal-framework-the-impacts-of-time--space-factors-9663.html
Al-Baihaqi. Sunan al-Kubra. Vol. 10 (Kitab al-Da’wa wa al-Bayyinat).
Bellanger, P. (2011). From sovereignty in general to digital sovereignty in particular. http://lecercle.lesechos.fr/entreprises-marches/high-tech-medias/internet/221137239/souverainete-general-et-souverainete-numeriq
Beatty, S. P. (1998). Litigation in Cyberspace: The Current and Future State of Internet Jurisdiction. U. Balt. Intell. Prop. LJ, 7 (127).
Couture, S., & Toupin, S. (2019). What does the notion of sovereignty mean when referring to the digital? New Media & Society, 21(10), 2305-2322.
Cybersecurity Malaysia Website. https://www.cybersecurity.my/en/index.html
Deibert, R., Rohozinski, R., & Crete-Nishihata, M. (2012). Cyclones in cyberspace: Information shaping and denial in the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. Security Dialogue, 43(1), 3-24.
Faruqi, S. Sunday Star. 27 January 2022. Cyber Challenge to Freedom of Speech.
Fakhruroji, M. Muslims learning Islam on the internet. Handbook of Contemporary Islam and Muslim Lives. 1-17. 16 Mar 2019. 1-17
Fadzil, A. (2011). Deviant Teachings in Malaysia and Theirs Interpretation of the Qur’ān. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 1 No. 20; December 2011.
Frankenfield, J. 27 September 2022. “Data Loss: What it is, How it Works, Common Causes”. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/data-loss.asp. 5 September 2023
Friedman, L.M. Litigation and Society. Annual Review of Sociology. 15:17-29 (Volume publication date August 1989). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.so.15.080189.000313
Jusidin, N., & Mohd Kusrin,M. & Zuliza. (2018). The Propagation of Doctrine of Deviant Religious Teachings in the Cyber Net. Al-Qanatir: International Journal of Islamic Studies, Vol. 10. No. 1. April Issue, p.42-62.
Khairuldin, W. M. K. F. W., Anas, W. N. I. W. N., & Embong, A. H. (2018). The Binding of Laws to Personal Opinion of Muftis in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(11), 522–529.
Kotler, P., Kartajaya, H., & Setiawan, I. (2016). Marketing 4.0: moving from traditional to digital. John Wiley & Sons.
Musa, M.F.(2022). Freedom of Religion in Malaysia: The Situation and Attitutes of “Deviant” Muslim Groups. Trends in Southeast Asia. 16(22) ISEAS Publishing, Singapore.
Musa, M. F. 22 December 2020. Social Media Preachers: Unlicenced and Unbounded in Spreading Their Ideas. Issue 2020 (146) https://www.iseas.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ISEAS_Perspective_2020_146.pdf
Niazi, S.M. (2016). Maqasid Al-Shariah and Protection of Women’s Rights. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (2016) Vol.28, No.1, pp 136-145.
Pasha, S.A., Ali, S. & Jeljeli, R. Artificial Intelligence Implementation to Counteract Cybercrimes Against Children in Pakistan. Hu Arenas (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42087-022-00312-8
Pupillo, L., & Fantin, S. (2021). Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/artificial-intelligence-and-cybersecurity-2/
Savage, J. The Cyberspace Challenge. Conference: American Association for the Advancement of Science 2014 Annual Meeting https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267883731_The_Cyberspace_Challenge/link/59a6bbf40f7e9b41b789014e/download
Salleh, M.K.M, Bahori, A, & Yahya, M.A. Position of Fatwa in The Constitution: A Legal Analysis (2021). Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 29 (4): 2171 - 2188 (2021) 2171-2188.
Sheldon, J. (2014). Geopolitics and cyber power: Why geography still matters, in American foreign policy interests. The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, 36(5), 286-293.
Solahudin D, Fakhruroji M. Internet and Islamic Learning Practices in Indonesia: Social Media, Religious Populism, and Religious Authority. Religions. 2020; 11(1):19. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel11010019
Sinar Harian (28 June 2021). “4,327 kes jenayah siber libat kerugian RM77 juta dilaporkan”.https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/146770/BERITA/Nasional/4327-kes-jenayah-siber-libat-kerugian-RM77-juta-dilaporkan (accessed on 15 October 2021).
The Star. 25 July 2023. “‘Si Hulk’ cult teachings declared as deviant” https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/07/25/si-hulk-cult-teachings-declared-as-deviant
The Star. 20 July 2023. “Johor Islamic Religious Dept, MCMC to curb spread of SiHulk deviant teachings.”
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/07/20/johor-islamic-religious-dept-mcmc-to-curb-spread-of-sihulk-deviant-teachings
Van Deursen, A. J., van Dijk, J. A., & Peter, M. (2015). Increasing inequalities in what we do online: A longitudinal cross-sectional analysis of Internet activities among the Dutch population (2010 to 2013) over gender, age, education, and income. Telematics and Informatics, 32(2), 259-272.
Yadav, S., & Husain, M. S. (2018). Application of artificial intelligence in fighting against cyber-crimes: A review Available Online at www. ijarcs. info Application of artificial intelligence in fighting against cyber crimes: A review. April 2020.
Yunus, A. 13 December 2021. “More than 30 cases of deviant teaching detected in 2020”. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/12/753918/more-30-cases-deviant-teaching-detected-2020
Zulkiflee, W. Jakim, 22 July 2023. “MCMC working closely to prevent spread of deviant teachings.” New Straits Times.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/07/933776/jakim-mcmc-working-closely-prevent-spread-deviant-teachings. 12 September 2023.
Acts/Enactments
Communications and Multimedia Act 1988 (Act 588).
Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA)
Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (POTA)
Penal Code.
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1997 (Johor)
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1992 (Perak)
Syariah Court Evidence (Federal Territories) Act 1997
Syariah Criminal Offence (Federal Territories) Act 1997
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Johor) 1997
Syariah Criminal Offences Ordinance (Sarawak) 2001
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Selangor) 1995
Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (State of Penang) 1996.
Published
2023-12-01
How to Cite
ZAKIYY, Norman; HASHIM, Hasnizam.
Setbacks Impeding Litigation of Deviant Teachings in Cyberspace.
International Journal of Business and Technology Management, [S.l.], v. 5, n. 4, p. 154-162, dec. 2023.
ISSN 2682-7646.
Available at: <https://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijbtm/article/view/24923>. Date accessed: 04 oct. 2024.
Section
English Section
