The politics of avoidance: the Malaysian Human Rights Commission and the right to freedom of religion

Abstract

In recent years, issues pertaining to freedom of religion have attracted much attention and public controversy in Malaysia, highlighting the discrepancy between (inter)national human rights norms and national practices. Particularly anthropological theories regarding human rights realization, have argued that it is crucial for human rights to become embedded in society. This article examines how the Malaysian National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), SUHAKAM, has positioned itself with regard to the right to freedom of religion. The article describes a number of cases brought to the Commission and its responses. This forms the basis for an analysis of SUHAKAM's behaviour, which in turn provi..