Malaysian authorities must ensure safety of arrested Saudi journalist, clarify legal grounds for arrest
February 11, 2012
Media Release (11 February 2012)
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is concerned for the safety of Saudi newspaper columnist Hamza Kashgari, currently under detention by Malaysian police at the request of Saudi Arabian authorities for tweets which allegedly insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Kashgari, arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on 9 February 2012, is being detained at an undisclosed location. Since his arrest, he has not been allowed access to lawyers appointed by his family to represent him.
Local and international human rights groups are concerned that if deported to Saudi Arabia, he would be likely charged with apostasy and face a possible death sentence. Kashgari fled Saudi Arabia after his tweets about the Prophet, for which he has apologised and since removed, drew and invited calls for his execution on social media platforms and death threats from vigilantes.
Kashgari’s lawyers on their tweet postings indicated that calls for his execution could be politically motivated because of his blog postings in support of fellow activists in Syria and public support for the Arab Spring protests.
We therefore call upon the authorities to clarify the legal grounds for Kashgari’s arrest. They must allow him to meet with his lawyers while he remains under detention. He should be released if there is no legal basis to arrest or extradite him.
Mr Kashgari’s right to express his opinion must be respected and protected, more so in light of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s recent launch of the Global Movement of the Moderates in Kuala Lumpur, which stresses “the need for critical engagement that corresponds to the universal principles of justice, excellence and equilibrium”. At the very least, the Malaysian authorities have an obligation to ensure Mr Kashgari’s safety.
The Centre for Independent Journalism, Malaysia (CIJ) is a non-profit organisation that aspires for a society that is democratic, just and free, where all peoples will enjoy free media and the freedom to express, seek and impart information.