Despite apology, it’s #love for ‘touch a dog’ organiser on Twitter
Syed Azmi Alhabshi may have apologised for the furore over his "I Want To Touch A Dog" event, but not everyone is accepting it, especially those who feel he has done no wrong.
Social media users began reacting to the news of his apology this morning, which the pharmacist who is in his 30s issued at a packed press conference.
"I would like to apologise and I had no intention to cause trouble to anyone.
"I had no intention to deviate from the faith and change Islamic teachings or to ridicule Islamic scholars, or to promote liberalism."
But Twitter users, including fellow Muslims, came to his defence and praised him for his good intentions.
"No need to apologise Syed Azmi because the world is pretty much f***** up," tweeted @IniKamalHakim.
"My teori is kalau Syed Azmi mntk maaf he is a victim, not the game player," said another user, @Asadullah_91.
One with the handle @ardnie even tweeted in capital letters, expressing dismay at Syed Azmi's apology, "Why do you need to apologise when you've done nothing wrong?! Urghh!!"
While another, @ewanmarcuz, said Syed Azmi shouldn't have said sorry. "Kenapa Syed Azmi nak kena minta maaf? Kalau aku jadi dia, mati sepuluh kali pun aku takkan minta maaf sebab aku tak buat salah." (Why did Syed Azmi apologise? If I were him, even if I had to die ten times, I would not apologise because I did not do any wrong.)
Other social media users pointed to those who were attacking Syed Azmi instead, with questions over the lack of action against those who made death threats against him.
"Kpd Syed Azmi: #IWantToTouchADog tak ada sebab utk minta maaf. Niat baik & kesannya pun baik. Yg takut sgt tu cetek ilmu, bongkak & bsk hati,", said @hafidzirazali. (To Syed Azmi: #IWantToTouchADog there is no reason to apologise. The intention and effect are good. Those who are scared are those with shallow knowledge, are proud and have cruel hearts.)
"Have any of the critics of Syed Azmi criticised or condemned the death threats against him? The minister? Just asking," tweeted former Bar Council chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan using her handle @Ambiga_S.
One user, @LogosIsWord, had encouraging words, saying, "#syedazmi u r a wonderful child of #Allah. Ignore those who issue death threats n curse u as they r worst than #dogs. #malaysia"
At the press conference today, lawyer Syahredzan Johan who was present said Syed Azmi had been inundated with threats, at one point receiving 2,000 messages on his Whatsapp mobile account in a matter of hours.
Syed Azmi has also been threatened in phone calls and on social media, and has lodged a police report and another with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
"I Want to Touch a Dog" in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, on October 19 drew an unexpected crowd of more than a 1,000 people, including many Muslims.
While the event was generally well-received, Muslim groups and some leaders have condemned Syed Azmi, accusing him of insulting the clerics and spreading liberal Islam.
Malaysia follows the Shafi’i school of jurisprudence, one of four schools in Sunni Islam but the strictest when it comes to handling dogs, which it considers unclean and forbidden.
But not all schools of jurisprudence have the same view, and Twitter has also seen "I Want to Touch a Dog" and Syed Azmi receive support from Muslims in other countries.
On October 22, a user with the handle @RaquelEvita tweeted: "Muslims, whatcan we do to support Syed Azmi Alhabshi as he receives threats and has to hide from extremists? Photos with dogs, campaign?"
She also tweeted, "A thought: tweet a photo of yourself with a dog or puppy with "I stand with Syed Azmi Alhabshi and against hate #IWantToTouchADog". – October 25, 2014.
