Bali Nine: Has Scott Rush converted to Islam?

THE death-row inmate and Bali nine drug courier Scott Rush (pictured) has been circumcised by a man who snuck in to Bali's Kerobokan jail and covertly performed the operation in an Islamic prayer room.

The procedure, performed on Friday, is commonly part of the ritual when a person converts to Islam, although the religious orientation of Rush - who has previously professed to be a Christian - could not be established last night.

Agus Hartawan, Kerobokan's medical officer, confirmed the circumcision in a telephone interview yesterday as he was examining Rush in his prison clinic.

''The wound is healing properly and he is doing fine,'' Dr Hartawan said.

He then passed the phone to Rush, who, when asked if he had converted to Islam, said ''No comment'', adding he would be making no further statements.

Even so, the Herald understands Rush has been given the Islamic name Suleiman, and has been spending a lot of time in the past two weeks with a small group of Muslim prisoners.

The clandestine circumcision was undertaken at the prison's musholla, or prayer room, by members of an Islamic group who entered the prison with medical equipment.

According to one source, a white sheet was put up while the operation took place. It is believed a local anaesthetic was used.

Dr Hartawan expressed his anger at the security breach.

''I am now very upset,'' he said. ''Kebakaran jenggot! [My beard is on fire!] ''I heard it was done by LSM Islam [an Islamic non-government organisation].''

Rush has battled depression since he was incarcerated more than five years ago and has been particularly unsettled lately as he waits for his final legal appeal against his death sentence to be lodged this year.

Just last month, on April 28, he spoke to the Herald of his struggle with Christianity and its concept of redemption for sinners who confess.

Rush said while he had confessed to his crime, expressed remorse and prayed regularly, ''I'm still looking for forgiveness. I just feel so bad about everything, especially for what I've done to my parents and family.''

It is understood his interest in Islam peaked just days after that interview, when he attended a prayer session for the first time.

A week later, he was circumcised, provoking uproar among prison officials and astounding other inmates.

Circumcision is recommended when converting to Islam, but it is not compulsory. The only mandatory act in adopting Islam is Shahada, or bearing witness.

This usually involves a person stating before reputable Muslim witnesses that there is no god but Allah, and that the prophet Muhammad is his messenger.

Rush was 19 when he made his first overseas trip as part of the Bali nine heroin smuggling ring.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald, May 11, 2010

'Anxiety' behind Rush circumcision

THERE are grave concerns for the mental well-being of death row inmate and Bali nine member Scott Rush, as friends and family come to terms with his decision to be circumcised at an Islamic prayer room.

The circumcision occurred after a doctor was smuggled into Kerobokan prison on Friday by a group of Muslims and raised questions about Rush's religion.

Circumcision is commonly a part of a conversion ceremony although Rush told members of his prayer group who visited him yesterday that he remained a Christian.

But according to a former psychiatrist who was part of the group, the young Queenslander was ''anxious, thought disordered and confused''.

''He exhibited naivety and did not seem to realise the implications of what he had done,'' the former psychiatrist, who asked not to be identified, reported back to Rush's family and legal team.

''He is an anxious, lonely and terrified young man. He is trying to find understanding in a world that no longer makes sense.''

The former psychiatrist said Rush showed signs of ''death row phenomenon'', a mental malady that affects people under a death sentence, leading to ''perception disorder''.

Rush has been on death row for 2½ years for his role in the syndicate that tried to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin to Australia. His final legal appeal is due shortly.

According to Kerobokan's section head of rehabilitation, Anang Huzaini, Rush has prayed with Muslims at the jail and ''he did at one point tell me he had converted to Islam''.

Rush now maintains he undertook the circumcision - apparently performed with a laser - for ''health reasons'', Mr Huzaini said. But the jail has a clinic for such operations.

Mr Huzaini said he would ask the prison doctor on Friday to consider whether Rush needed outside psychiatric assistance.

Source: Brisbane Times, May 12, 2010