Death Threats to Human Rights Defender and Lawyer, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar
Suaram views with grave concerns the death threats received by prominent human rights lawyer and defender, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and would like to lodge this complaint for your immediate attention and action.
The Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, ABIM), the Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) and the Muslim Professional Forum should be commended for revealing and denouncing the death threats, despite disagreement with the views of Malik Imtiaz Sarwar.
On 19 August 2006, in a press conference held by the president of ABIM Yusri Mohamad, he revealed that a leaflet that calls for the death of Malik Imtiaz Sarwar over his role in conducting watching brief representing the Malaysian Bar Council in the apostasy case of Lina Joy was widely circulated.
According to the online news portal malaysiakini, they received an e-mail with 'Wanted: Dead' written in large typeface above a photograph of Malik Imtiaz, who is described as 'the traitor-lawyer' that is supporting the Lina Joy case. "Spread (this) to our brothers so that they recognise this traitor. If he is found dead on the roadside, let him be. Do not help!" reads the message in Malay language. The death threat was also circulated in the form of SMS (short messaging service).
Lina Joy, originally named Azlina Jailani, has converted her religion from Islam to Christianity in 1988 and applied to the National Registration Department to delete the word Islam from her identity card. She filed a suit against the National Registration Department for the rejection of her application. The case is now pending at the Federal Court after her appeal was dismissed by the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Malik Imtiaz, a Muslim himself, has been in the fore front in defending the right to freedom of religion, an issue that is highly sensitive in the multi-ethnic and multi-religious society of Malaysia. He was involved in the proposal of setting up the Inter Faith Council (IFC) mooted by the Bar Council and has been one of the speakers that spoke in a series of public forum on constitutional rights and freedom of religion organized by the Article 11 Coalition. Malik Imtiaz is also the president of the National Human Rights Society of Malaysia.
The Article 11 Coalition was formed by 13 non-governmental organizations to defend the supremacy of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and the independence of the judiciary following controversial court judgments in a few cases involving non-Muslim as not falling under their jurisdiction, thus leaving the judicial power to the Syariah Courts, such as in the case of Shamala and M Moorthy.
The proposal of setting up of the Inter Faith Council has been seen as a challenge to the status of Islam in the country and has been objected by numerous Islamic groups. On14 May 2006, the public forum entitled "Federal Constitution: Protection for All" organized by the Article 11 Coalition and Aliran in Penang, was disrupted and stopped by a crowd of 200 demonstrators, belonging to a loose coalition of Muslim groups calling themselves the Anti-Interfaith Commission. The Penang forum was the third forum organized by the Article 11 Coalition after the leg in Petaling Jaya and Melaka. The subsequent fourth public forum in Johor Bahru on 22 July 2006 was also stopped half way on the advice of the police due to a demonstration of Islamic groups outside the venue. Malik Imtiaz was one of the speakers of the four forums.
Suaram believes it is the active involvement of Malik Imtiaz on the issue of freedom of religion that caused the death threats issued against him. Suaram condemns the death threats against the human rights defenders. We strongly believes differing views on the issue of freedom of religion should be allowed and can be discussed through rational dialogue, no one should be deprived of his or her right to freedom of opinion and expression. The death threat is clearly used to intimidate Malik Imtiaz for speaking out his mind truthfully on the issue of freedom of religion.
The right to life of Malik Imtiaz is at risk. We call on you to act immediately before the situation deteriorates further. Please find attached a copy of the leaflet of the death threat to Malik Imtiaz.
Yours sincerely,
Yap Swee Seng
Executive Director
Attention to:
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