Islamists vs Comango - Part 1

In May 2013, the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs in the UPR Process (COMANGO) submitted a report to the Office of the UN High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) on issues affecting human rights in Malaysia. This report was used by OHCHR in October last year in reviewing Malaysia's human rights record.

Comango represents 52 NGOs and is the largest of the many groups that have made submissions to the UN on Malaysia's human rights record.

Comango's report highlighted issues that were not included in the country's own report submitted in 2008, namely the rights of non-citizens, sexual orientation and gender identity rights and racism.

Several Islamic groups have chastised Comango for their report to OHCHR, accusing the coalition of trying to legitimize LGBGT, undermine the special position of the Malays and Islam and promote secularism in the country; they say the coalition advocates freedom of religion to the extent of even allowing Muslims to renounce Islam.

But is this true?