Ahlul Bayt News Agency, Kuala Lumpur - A Malaysian Islamic court fined nine Muslims up to 1,000 ringgit (321 dollars) each for celebrating the end of Ramadan two days ahead of the official date, a news report said Thursday.
Eid al Fitr, the festival which marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, officially begins this Friday in Malaysia.
The date is fixed by Islamic authorities each year according to the lunar calendar, and can vary by a day or two from one group to another.
The fined worshippers belonged to the Al Zikri Awwalun group based in the northern state of Perlis, which is considered a deviant branch of Islam by the Malaysian authorities, and which celebrated this year's Eid on Wednesday.
Perlis religious officers busted the group when they were holding the Eid morning prayer on Wednesday, Malay-language daily Berita Harian reported.
All nine pleaded guilty in front of the syariah magistrate court. Syariah courts deal with Islamic law under Malaysia's dual legal system.
The group leader, who had studied Islam in Indonesia, was sentenced to a 1,000-ringgit fine or four months jail while his wife, two sons and their five followers were given fines of 900 ringgit each or three months in jail.
source : http://abna.ir/
