Communication report and search

OHCHR.org

3 communications found
Date, Country,
Type and
ref. no. of
communication
Mandates Summary Replies received
    10 May 2019
    Malaysia
    JAL
  • freedom of opinion and expression
  • freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
  • human rights defenders
  • sexual orientation and gender identity
  • women in law and in practice
Information received concerning investigations into the organisers of a women’s day march in Kuala Lumpur under the Sedition Act, and the summoning of LGBT+ human rights defender Mr. Numan Afifi
Alleged victims: 1
More details...
24 Jan 2020
    25 Feb 2015
    Malaysia
    JAL
  • freedom of opinion and expression
  • human rights defenders
  • freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
Alleged arrest and detention of two human rights defenders under the Sedition Act 1948 for exercising their right to freedom of expression. According to the information received, on 9 January 2015, Mr. Eric Paulsen, co-founder of Lawyers for Liberty, tweeted that the Malaysian Islamic Development Department was promoting extremism. Three days later, on 12 January 2015, he was arrested by approximately 20 police officers and detained for two days, before being charged under the Sedition Act 1948 on 5 February 2015. The first hearing of Mr. Paulsen’s trial has been scheduled for 27 April 2015. In another case, Mr. Zulkiflee Sm Anwar Ulhaque, a human rights defender and cartoonist, was detained for three days for investigation under the same Sedition Act 1948, after having posited a tweet on 10 February 2015 criticizing a decision of the Malaysian judiciary. Mr. Ulhaque was released from detention on 13 February 2015, although he was told to return to the police station on 26 February 2015. Similar allegations of arrests of individuals under the Sedition Act 1948 were addressed in previous communications sent on 1 October 2014, see A/HRC/28/85, case no. MYS 6/2014, and on 23 December 2014, see A/HRC/28/85, case no. MYS 8/2014.
Alleged victims: 2
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    01 Oct 2014
    Malaysia
    JUA
  • freedom of opinion and expression
  • human rights defenders
  • independence of judges and lawyers
  • freedom of peaceful assembly and of association
Allegations of criminalization of the lawful exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, through application of the Sedition Act of 1948. According to the information received, at least 23 persons, including elected Members of Parliament, political activists, human rights defenders, academics, lawyers, students and journalists, have been charged, detained and sentenced under the Sedition Act of 1948 for expressing opinions and disseminating information through different channels, including the internet and traditional media. It is reported that the Sedition Act of 1948 has been increasingly used in recent months to prevent and criminalize democratic speech, including criticism against the Government, its leaders and ruling political parties, as well as to prevent discussions on religion and ethnicity issues.
Alleged victims: 7
More details...
14 Oct 2014
15 Mar 2016