Hamza Kashgari

Mr Hamza Kashgari, a national of Saudi Arabia is at risk of being deported from Malaysia to Saudi Arabia where he may face the death penalty as a result of comments he posted on the social media site Twitter. Hamza Kashgari is a journalist and blogger and an advocate of freedom of expression and freedom of thought in Saudi Arabia.

Last weekend before the anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday Hamza Kashgari posted a statement on his Twitter feed which provoked widespread public attention and caused clerics in Saudi Arabia to accuse him of blasphemy and to call for his death. Shortly after posting the statment Hamza Kashgari removed the tweets and retracted and apologised for his comments. He also asked for forgiveness for what he had posted.

The Information Minister of Saudi Arabia banned Hamza Kashgari publications. A prominent cleric, Nasser al-Omar, called for him to be tried in a Sharia court for apostasy, and other leading clerics and scholars condemned his comments and demanded that he be put on trial.

On 8 February 2012, fearing for his life, Hamza Kashgari fled to Malaysia as a result of the public outcry against the comments he had made. He is currently in detention at Malaysian police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur where he has been appointed a lawyer, Mr Ragunath. However, it is feared that he will be deported back to Saudi Arabia over the coming days where risks facing trial in a Sharia court on the charge of apostasy. A charge which carries the death penalty.

Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Hamza Kashgar.

Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Malaysia to:

1. Ensure that Hamza Kashgari is not deported back to Saudi Arabia where he risks being sentenced to death;

2. Immediately and unconditionally release Hamza Kashgari as Front Line Defenders believes that he is being detained solely as a result of the legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression;

3. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Hamza Kashgari.