Did she convert to Islam?

This is the question making its rounds after a Penang religious authority claimed that K. Surinder Kaur Bedi was a Muslim convert.

The 37 year-old Surinder succumbed to injuries yesterday (1 April 2019) after she was allegedly attacked by her 55-year old acquaintance the day before.

A former secondary classmate of Surinder, who spoke to Asia Samachar but wishes to remain anonymous, raised doubts on the purported conversion.

“Her family member did convert to Islam after the death of her dad many years ago. Back in school then, she told me that she had no intention of converting,” he said.

He claimed that he was in touch with Surinder some years back and did not get the impression that things had changed on the faith front.

In Penang, a Sikh outfit has called on the authorities to investigate the conversion claims.

Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM) Penang executive member Naamjit Singh today lodged a police report urging the authorities to verify the claim, and asking them to postpone the Muslim burial of the deceased.

It is understood that a Kuala Lumpur-based Sikh organisation is also planning to lodge a police report on the matter.

Surinder was given a Muslim burial yesterday following a post-mortem at the Penang Hospital, reported Free Malaysia Today, quoting Penang Islamic Department director Zulkifli Long.

“We respect the final wishes of the family,” he told the news portal.

Zulkifli also told FMT that Surinder’s name was not listed in the state’s converts register.

Penang mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor issued a letter confirming Surinder’s conversion based on a claim by her brother.

Asia Samachar had sighted the letter by the Penang mufti to the Penang Islamic affairs department known as the Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Negeri Penang (JHEAIPP). The letter was dated 1 April 2014.

Also making its rounds on the social media is a copy of a police report by Surinder’s brother, Imran Khan Mohamad Qurban Ali.

In the report, made at 9.15am on 1 April 2019, the 48-year old brother claims that his sister had converted to Islam in the presence of his mother and himself.