Posts Tagged ‘Malaysia’
February 12th, 2012
Malaysian authorities have deported a Saudi journalist accused of insulting the prophet Mohammed on Twitter, it was
reported today. Newspaper columnist Hamza Kashgari fled Saudi Arabia after tweeting a mock conversation between himself and the prophet Mohammed last week that sparked thousands of responses, including death threats. He was
arrested and detained upon his arrival in Malaysia last Wednesday. Insulting the prophet is considered blasphemous in Islam and is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.
February 10th, 2012
A
Saudi journalist was
arrested in
Malaysia on Wednesday night after a request by Interpol on behalf of Saudi authorities. Hamza Kashgari tweeted a mock conversation between himself and the prophet Mohammed last week, and fled the kingdom after he received thousands of death threats. Kashgari was en route to New Zealand when he was arrested. Saudi Arabia is seeking his extradition in order to try him for blasphemy.
January 20th, 2012
Political cartoonist Zunar (Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque)
appeared at the Kuala Lumpur High Court this week for the first hearing of a civil suit in which he challenges the Malaysian government and police for his
arrest and detention on 24 September 2010. Zunar is seeking the return of confiscated property as well as aggravated losses and damages incurred in the raid of his office, during which police seized copies of his latest work, Cartoon-O-Phobia, and arrested him for sedition. The raid occurred just hours before the book’s launch.
January 9th, 2012
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been
acquitted of charges of sodomy after a two-year court battle. A judge
ruled today that DNA evidence used by prosecution was unreliable. Anwar was first prosecuted after a former male aide
accused the politician of sodomising him in 2008. Anwar has long
denied the charges, calling them ”a vile and desperate attempt at character assassination” in a statement to the High Court in August of last year.
September 23rd, 2011
As the Malaysian prime minister implements change and moves to create a “functional and inclusive democracy,” the future of freedom of speech in the country looks brighter. But Malik Imtiaz Sarwar believes it’s still too soon to celebrate
(more…)
July 14th, 2011
Authorities are intent on stifling calls for free elections, says Malik Imtiaz Sarwar
(more…)
July 11th, 2011
Police in
Malaysia made 1600 arrests at the weekend, as protesters ignored government warnings to cancel
anti-government action. Leaders of the opposition coalition, Bersih, who have led the campaign for a “free and fair” election system, were amongst the thousands detained. An estimated 10, 000 police officers used tear gas and batons against the 50, 000 people who took to the streets of Kuala Lumpar. Crowds chanting, “Reformasi!” (“Reforms”), ‘”God is great” and “Long Live the People” were successfully prevented from gaining access to the to the king’s palace to hand over a memorandum detailing their demands.
June 28th, 2011
Malaysian authorities
arrested and detained 30 opposition members for planning a protest rally to be held on 9 July. The Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, claimed the activists were communists conspiring to overthrow the government.
