Malaysia: Hamza Kashgari deported unlawfully, lawyers claim

15 Feb 2012 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost

Lawyers representing Saudi journalist Hamza Kashgari have said there are no immigration records of his deportation from Malaysia last Sunday, suggesting the columnist may have been sent back to his native country in violation of international laws and that the Malaysian government may have acted in contempt of court. 23-year-old Kashgari fled Saudi Arabia after tweeting a mock conversation between himself and the prophet Mohammed that sparked thousands of responses, including death threats. He was arrested and detained upon his arrival in Malaysia on 9 February.  Kashgari may be accused of apostasy, which is a capital offence in Saudi Arabia.

 

Malaysia: Saudi journalist Hamza Kashgari deported

12 Feb 2012 | Asia and Pacific, Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost

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.