Muhyiddin Yassin
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister’s Office
62000 Putrajaya
Malaysia
Dear Prime Minister,
I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights activist and Freelance Journalist.
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding the Judicial harassment of Fadiah Nadwa Fikri .
According to the Frontline defender, On 3 March 2020, woman human rights defender Fadiah Nadwa Fikri was summoned by the federal police in Bukit Aman, for her participation in two peaceful rallies and a tweet she had published on the latter rally.
Fadiah Nadwa Fikri is a human rights lawyer and member of the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, an independent non-profit organisation fighting corruption in Malaysia. In her capacity as the Legal Advisor and Campaign Manager, the woman human rights defender conducts research and drafts positions in response to institutional and legal reforms in Malaysia. She also works towards reforming policies concerning good governance, anti-corruption, and human rights.
On 3 March 2020, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri was summoned by the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit of the federal police in Bukit Aman in relation to a speech she had delivered at a rally on 25 February 2020, where she expressed her disappointment in the country’s current political situation. The summons also referred to her subsequent participation in a protest rally on 29 February 2020, prior to which she had urged people on Twitter to join the rally.
The tweet stated “Turun ke Jalan, Demokrasi Mati” which translates to ‘Go to the Streets, Democracy is Dead’. The rally saw a huge gathering of people disappointed with the recent change of government.
The human rights defender was called in for an investigation under the Peaceful Assembly Act of 2012. In addition, there are concerns that Fadiah Nadwa Fikri might also be charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act which deals with committing of an act that has a seditious tendency, as well as Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act which deals with wrongful use of network services and facilities, as these provisions have frequently been used to target human rights defenders in the country. During the questioning on 3 March 2020, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri was compelled to give the police access to her Twitter account.
Human rights defenders across Malaysia have been raising concerns over the increasingly hostile environment for those who are critical of the government. The case is filed against Fadiah Nadwa Fikri can be seen as one among many and adds to a pattern of intimidation of human rights defenders in the country.
I condemn the ongoing judicial harassment of woman human rights defender Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, which I believe is solely motivated by her peaceful human rights activities and her exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
I urge the authorities in Malaysia to:
- Immediately cease the investigation against Fadiah Nadwa Fikri as it is believed to be solely motivated by her legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights;
- Engage with human rights defenders and civil society organisations denouncing corruption and cease all further harassment or intimidation directed against them;
- Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Malaysia can carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
Human Rights Activist and Freelance Journalist
York, United Kingdom
Twitter:twitter.com/Wnicholasgomes
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/williamnicholasgomez
Whatsapp: https://wa.me/447521561874
Cite this: Gomes, W. (2020). Malaysia: Judicial harassment of Fadiah Nadwa Fikri. [online] Newsghana.com.gh. Available at: https://www.newsghana.com.gh/malaysia-judicial-harassment-of-fadiah-nadwa-fikri/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2020].
