March 2026 marks the eighth year of my pursuit of religious freedom within the Syariah High Court. I have since filed a notice of appeal in the Syariah Court of Appeal. I now wait to see how the process unfolds.

Over time, I have come to realise that much of what I, and many others, experience in this process remains unheard. There are layers of difficulty that are rarely spoken about, and I have reached a point where I feel compelled to voice the unfairness and injustice that can arise within it.

For some time, I approached several human rights NGOs to ask whether there was space for individuals like us to share our experiences, with the aim of raising awareness. The responses were mixed. Some advised me to remain silent, suggesting that it was not the right time to speak on such matters. Others encouraged me to come forward, emphasising that these realities must be voiced by those who are directly experiencing them.

More recently, I attended a conference on freedom of religion or belief. One point that stayed with me was this: the right time to speak up is when a violation occurs – whether in the form of harassment, discrimination, or an infringement of a person’s fundamental liberty. It is not for those unaffected to determine when those affected should remain silent.

Waiting for a “perfect” or “convenient” time to speak up against religious injustice risks becoming a form of passive acceptance of those violations. It becomes a choice of convenience over solidarity.

For that reason, I begin with my own experience and in the posts that follow, I will be sharing the process involved in seeking a change of religious status, the practical challenges individuals face, the emotional and personal impact of prolonged uncertainty, and reflections on how law, in practice, can diverge from its stated principles.

This article was originally published on Buy Me a Coffee.