Syariah Penal Code · 2024 Revised Edition · Chapter IV · General Offences
217. Offences in relation to use of certain words in respect of religion of Islam
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Any person who, in any —
publication;
speech or public statement;
speech or statement addressed to any assembly; or
published or broadcasted speech or statement and at the time of the speech or statement was made he knows, or reasonably should have known, that it will be published or broadcasted, uses any word listed in Part 1 of Schedule 5, or any derivatives or its variation, to state or express any fact, belief, idea, concept, act, activity, matter or instances of or relating to a religion other than the religion of Islam is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $12,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both.
Any non-Muslim who, in instances mentioned in subsection (1), uses any expression listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5, except as a citation or reference is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $12,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both.
The Court may order for any publication or thing, among others, used in the commission of or related to the offence referred to in subsections (1) and (2) to be forfeited and destroyed notwithstanding that no person may have been convicted for the offence.
Court
“Court” means the Syariah Courts established under section 6(1) of the Syariah Courts Act;
Terms defined in s 2
Court
Defined · s 2“Court” means the Syariah Courts established under section 6(1) of the Syariah Courts Act;
publication
Defined · s 2“publication” means any of the following — (a) book, magazine or periodical, whether in manuscript or final form; (b) sound recording; (c) picture or drawing, whether made by computer-graphics or otherwise howsoever; (d) photograph, photographic negative, photographic plate or photographic slide; or (e) paper, model, sculpture, tape, diskette, article or thing — (i) that has printed or impressed upon it any word, statement, sign or representation; or (ii) on which is recorded or stored for immediate or future retrieval any information that, by the use of any computer or other electronic device, is capable of being reproduced or shown as any picture, photograph, word, statement, sign or representation, and includes a copy of any publication;
Part