Zamihan gets death threats for speaking against Shia, Wahhabi and Isis

Muslim cleric Zamihan Mat Zin Al-Ghari said he received a death threat yesterday, the second over a period of one year following his vocal stand against Shia, Wahhabi and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis). The president of the Malaysian Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Malaysia (Aswaja) said the latest threat was made via Facebook, from a man in Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang. Zamihan said he would lodge a police report on the matter tomorrow. "I do not know the person. I was told of this by a friend of mine," he said. He said the man, identified as Nasru Ahmad, was said to have commented: "Isytihar halal je darah nate zamihan ni..sapa2 nak bunuh..maka bunuh je..benci nengok org gila macam dia.." (Just declare that Zamihan's blood permissible...whoever wants to kill...just kill...hate to even look at a crazy person like him) Zamihan said this was not the first time he had received death threats via Facebook. The first was last year, from a teacher in Lahad Datu, Sabah. "I have lodged a police report on the matter and have not heard from the police since," he said, questioning the logic of people issuing death threats over differences of opinion. "His argument was that I was bringing in a different kind of teaching than Sunni," said Zamihan. He added that the teacher had even said his death would symbolise a victory to those who practise Sunni teachings. "Differences in opinion and schools of thought, but why do I have to die?" he asked. The 40-year-old religious officer said apart from the two death threats he received on social media, he had also gotten similar threats from suspected militants undergoing rehabilitation in prison. "They threatened to kill me for trying to help them. I told them to go ahead as I will die as a martyr," he said. Zamihan was recently caught in a controversy surrounding a public debate with Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin. The talk was however cancelled at the last minute following what he said were "orders from the country's top leadership". Zamihan was later transferred to the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development's (Jakim) human resource division. – February 20, 2016.]]>