The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) condemns the actions of the Sabahan authorities in barring Bersih director Asraf Sharafi Azhar from entering Sabah and his ensuing deportation to Kuala Lumpur on 30 June, preventing him from seeing his family – his wife and two children.
This not only serves as an act of intimidation against human rights defenders but is a direct affront of one’s right to freedom of movement and, by extension, freedom of expression.
As a human rights defender, these actions taken against him can be construed as a threat to his private life and personal affairs.
As these actions pose a threat to Asraf, it is clear that this is an act of intimidation that can prevent him from carrying out his role as a human rights defender, this prohibition from seeing his family serving as a disincentive to carry out his role as a rights defender.
This is especially salient as it comes after Asraf and other activists marched to Parliament to hand over a memorandum urging the government to establish a royal commission of inquiry to investigate the “corporate mafia” allegations involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
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Further, no valid reason has been given by the Sabahan government as to why he was placed on a warning list.
This lack of transparency goes against the public interest as human rights deferenders are voices representing the public’s needs.
As such, we urge the Sabahan authorities to lift this ban immediately, as we stand in solidarity with Asraf for his fundamental liberties to be restored to him.
Barring this, we call for clear justifications and valid reasoning behind the suppression of basic human rights by any authority. The public interest should, by right, be at the centre of any actions taken. – CIJ
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
