Turkish writer detained in Malaysia freed

By P Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR

A Turkish writer who was detained in Kuala Lumpur when he arrived to address a conference on Islam, has been released, a police official said Tuesday.

Mustafa Akyol was arrested on Monday for wanting to preach about Islam at a private university without prior permission from the Islamic religious body.

Akyol was released from the Federal Police headquarters at 3 p.m. local time (0700GMT) after an overnight questioning by the local religious authority, the source told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to restrictions over speaking to media.

Akyol was released after he explained why he agreed to present a public lecture on Islam without first seeking "proper credentials".

"He was released without conditions but was asked to leave the country immediately, and he agreed," the source said, adding Akyol was seen distressed during the questioning by the police and the religious authority.

"After the interrogation, he immediately requested to leave the country in the next immediate flight, as he was stressed with the unwarranted developments."

Akyol was scheduled to speak at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus on his latest book: "The Islamic Jesus: How the King of the Jews Became a Prophet of the Muslims."

He was summoned by the Islamic religious authority upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, which caused the lecture to be postponed.

Akyol was detained by the Immigration Department under the instructions of the police at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, before catching a flight to the United States via Istanbul.

A source in the immigration department told Anadolu Agency on Monday that Akyol was summoned for "teaching without official credentials from the religious authorities, under Section 11 of the Shariah Criminal Offences [Federal Territories] Act," which carries a fine for up to $713 or not more than three years of imprisonment.