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Malaysia/Saudi Arabia - Saudi human rights defender Hamza Kashgari at risk of being deported to Saudi Arabia where he may face the death penaltyposted on: 2012/02/10

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.

Malaysia: New assembly law will violate the legitimate right of human rights defenders to peaceful assemblyposted on: 2011/11/30

On 29 November 2011, the lower house of the Malaysian Parliament approved a Peaceful Assembly Bill. This Bill will severely effect the right of human rights defenders (HRDs) to exercise peaceful assembly to campaign for human rights.

Malaysia: Update – Settlement reached in defamation case against human rights defender Charles Hector Fernandezposted on: 2011/08/31

On 25 August 2011, a settlement was reached in the defamation suit by Japanese-company Asahi Kosei against human rights defender and lawyer Charles Hector Fernandez following a trial which lasted six months.

Further Information

Under the terms of the settlement, Charles Hector Fernandez must pay 2 Malaysian Ringgits (less than €1) in costs and damages to the Asahi Kosei company. As a part of the settlement, he is required to publicise an apology which will be printed as a half-page advertisement in two national newspapers, The Star, and The Nanyang Siang Pau, which will cost him 22,000 Malaysian Ringits (approximately €5,100). In addition, he has to pay 10,000 Malaysian Ringits (€2,310) to the court in legal fees.

Charles Hector Fernandez is a prominent human rights defender and lawyer in Malaysia. He was sued for US$3.3 million (appx.

Malaysia: Restriction order imposed on fifteen prominent human rights defenders amid preparations for demonstrationsposted on: 2011/07/08

On 7 July 2011, fifteen prominent human rights defenders were placed under a restriction order barring them from entering, remaining in, or passing through Kuala Lumpur, in advance of planned demonstrations. Those named face being arrested on the spot if they are found in the capital.

Malaysia: UPDATE-Trial of human rights defender Mr Charles Hector Fernandez postponed until August 2011posted on: 2011/06/29

Charles Hector Fernandez is a human rights defender and lawyer working to defend the rights of migrants and workers. He is being charged with defamation by a Japanese-owned company Asahi Kosei for US$3.3 million following a comment posted on his blog concerning the treatment of 31 Burmese migrant workers by the company.

Further Information

Appearing at the court on 27 June 2011, Charles Hector Fernandez's lawyer requested the postponement of the full trial on the grounds that the defendant needs more time to prepare for the case. His lawyer claimed that Charles Hector Fernandez was only made aware of the charge on 21 February 2011 despite the charge being filed against him on 14 February 2011. He further stated that he needed more time to prepare for the case given that more witnesses needed to be interviewed, and that his father had recently passed away unexpectedly.

Malaysia: Fears of unfair trial on defamation charge against human rights defender Mr Charles Hector Fernandezposted on: 2011/06/23

Human rights defender Mr Charles Hector Fernandez is facing trial on 28-29 June 2011 for allegedly defaming Japanese-owned company Asahi Kosei (M) Shd. Bhd in Selangor, Malaysia. As the trial date is nearing, the Court has handed down a decision dated 11 April 2011 which appears to have concluded that that the defendant is guilty. Charles Hector Fernandez is a well-known human rights defender and lawyer who has represented workers and migrants for many years. He is a former member of the Malaysian Bar Council who advocates for labour reform and details abuses of workers on his blog, http://charleshector.blogspot.com.

Malaysia: Continued criminalisation of Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) and the Human Rights Partyposted on: 2011/03/11

Since 1 March 2011, the Malaysian authorities have arrested some 54 members of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) and its sister organisation, the Human Rights Party in what appears to be a widespread campaign of repression and judicial harassment against the organisations and their members.

Further Information

HINDRAF is a grassroots-based human rights advocacy group working on promoting the rights of the Hindu and other marginalised communities in Malaysia.

The 54 individuals, who have all been released on bail, are charged with taking part in an “illegal organisation”, as a result of the authorities' continued refusal to process the organisation's request for registration. Furthermore, the National Secretary of HINDRAF, Mr P Ramesh, was also charged with possession of banners and documents that further the cause of HINDRAF, based on the aforementioned lack of legal recognition granted to the organisation.

HINDRAF was founded in December 2005 in order to lobby for the rights and religious freedoms of minority non-Muslims in Malaysia.

Malaysia: Crackdown on members of human rights organisation HINDRAFposted on: 2011/02/23

Between 13 and 21 February 2011, some 80 volunteer members, and other individuals associated with the human rights organization Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) were arrested and detained throughout Malaysia before being released without charge.

Further Information

HINDRAF is a coalition of Hindu non-governmental organizations working on promoting the rights of the Hindu communities in Malaysia. The arrests and detentions are reportedly related to the organization's ongoing preparations for an anti-racism march, which is due to take place on 27 February 2011.

On 21 February 2011 at approximately midday, Mr Gobalakrishnan Manickam, a member of the Malaysian Human Rights Party (which is also involved in the organization of the aforementioned march), was arrested at his home in Batang Kali by policemen who reportedly did not possess a valid Court Order for his arrest. He was subsequently denied contact with his lawyer and family members until his release.

Malaysia: Release of human rights defenders, Mr V. Ganapathy Rao and Mr R. Kengatharan, and detention of three othersposted on: 2009/04/08

Front Line welcomes the news of the release of Mr V. Ganapathy Rao and Mr R. Kengatharan, two human rights lawyers with Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), a coalition of Hindu nongovernmental organisations working on promoting the rights of the Hindu communities in Malaysia, on 6 April 2009.

Malaysia - Family members of detained HINDRAF human rights lawyers arrestedposted on: 2008/10/24

Case Update

Ten detainees associated with the HINDRAF case were released on bail and are due to return to the Police Station on 25 November 2008. P. Vwaishhnnavi, daughter of P. Waythamoorthy and her mother K. Shanti were released on 24 October and, due to fear of subsequent arrest, have gone into exile in the United Kingdom.