Malaysia: Arbitrary Arrest of Activist Under Sedition Act 1948 [URGENT APPEAL – SUARAM]

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    We demand that Khalid bin Mohd Ismath be released immediately without condition and refrain from using the Sedition Act,1948 to intimidate activist .

    12th October 2015

    Khalid Mohd Ismath is a Malaysian activist and a member of the Socialist Party of Malaysia. He has been a student activist , highlighting many issues of human rights violations and misuse of power by the enforcement authorities.

    On 7th of Ocotber, 2015, Khalid Mohd Ismath was arrested at this office under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act, 1998. He arrested under the pretext of contravening this act by posting offensive comments on facebook. Although he was supposed to be released on the 9th October, 2015 at the end of his remand period, he was maliciously arrested again under the infamous Sedition Act, 1948 that same night .

    The police have obtained a further detention order against him, by throwing heavy charges against him. Khalid Ismath is now accused of insulting the Royalty and the police force. He is now remanded till Tuesday 13th October, 2015.

    The rearrest under the Sedition Act, 1948 was done in reference to a police report made by the same investigating officer whom arrested him under the Communications and Multimedia Act, 1998. The police have used the first arrest to detain him and seize his mobile phone and computer to extract any information which can be used against him to detain him further.
    This is a blatant misuse of power by the police force, proves that they had no evidence against him nor any complaint from the public. The Sedition Act has been increasingly used to curtail public dissent and freedom of expression. The government via the police force is instilling fear among the activist by detaining and punishing anyone whom criticize the authorities.

    We demand that Khalid bin Mohd Ismath be released immediately without condition and refrain from using the Sedition Act,1948 to intimidate activist .

    Background:  www.suaram.net

    Image : asklegal.my

    Objective

    Release immediately Khalid bin Mohd Ismath without condition and refrain from using the Sedition Act,1948 to intimidate activist.

    Target Institution

    Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi
    Minister of Home Affairs
    Ministry of Home Affairs
    Block D1 & D2, Complex D,
    Administrative Center,
    Federal Territory, 62546
    Putrajaya
    MALAYSIA
    Fax : +603-88891613/ +603-88891610

    Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Khalid bin Abu Bakar
    Inspector-General of Police
    Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,
    50560 Bukit Aman,
    Kuala Lumpur
    E-mail: rmp@rmp.gov.my
    Twitter: @KBAB51

    How to Support The Campaign

    We hence call upon CSO’s and HR organisations around the world to send your protest letter.

    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Dear Dato Seri/Tan Sri,

    RELEASE KHALID BIN MOHD ISMATH IMMEDIATELY

    We__________________________________ call upon the Malaysian police to immediately release activist Khalid bin Mohd Ismath, whom has been detained since last Wednesday 7th October, 2015 and taken to IPD Johor Bahru Selatan, Johor, Malaysia. He is now being detained and a remand centre in Johor Bahru.

    On 7th of Ocotber, 2015, Khalid Mohd Ismath was arrested at this office under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act, 1998. He was arrested under the pretext of contravening this act by posting offensive comments on facebook. Although he was supposed to be released on the 9th October, 2015 at the end of his remand period, he was arrested again under the infamous Sedition Act, 1948 that same night.

    We understand that the rearrest under the Sedition Act, 1948 was done in reference to a police report made by the same investigating officer whom arrested him under the Communications and Multimedia Act, 1998. The police have used the first arrest to detain him and seize his mobile phone and computer to extract any information which can be used against him to detain him further.

    This is a blatant misuse of power by the police force, proves that they had no evidence against him nor any complaint from the public. He is now remanded till Tuesday 13th October, 2015. We fear his detention will be further extended.

    We feel that the Sedition Act has been increasingly used to curtail public dissent and freedom of expression. The government via the police force seems to be instilling fear among the activist by detaining and punishing anyone whom criticize the authorities.

    We demand that Khalid bin Mohd Ismath be released immediately without condition and the authorities refrain from using the Sedition Act,1948 to intimidate activist .

    Thank you.

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
    Please send a copy of your protest letter to ed@suaram.net and int.psm@gmail.com (for record keeping purposes)
    Any enquiry, please contact Sivarajan, Secretary General PSM +6010 2580455 or e-mail: sivarajan.a@gmail.com
    OR
    Sevan Doraisamy , SUARAM ( Malaysian Human Rights NGO) at +6016 970 8370 , email – ed@suaram.net