PETALING JAYA: You’re conducting a worship session with your pastor and neighbours at home when someone knocks on your gate. You are told that they are from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and they are there to check on a report that words such as “Allah” are being used at the worship session. Do…
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — A legal ban on the non-Muslim use of “Allah” that is so far administrative could now force its way into the worship of Christians, as Selangor Islamic authorities seek out those they say are illegally using the word reserved for Muslims by state law. The action could also further reveal…
The National Union of Journalists and human rights group Lawyers for Liberty have condemned Putrajaya for the indefinite suspension of newsweekly The Heat, saying its action contradicted the meaning of democracy. NUJ president Chin Sung Chew said Malaysia as a democratic country should uphold the practice of media freedom. “The media is the Fourth Estate…
Press Statement 20 December 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is extremely concerned (although not surprised) with the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim’s application to disqualify private lawyer Muhammad Shafee from leading the Attorney General’s Chambers’ appeal against Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal for sodomy. Shafee’s appointment as Deputy Public Prosecutor smacks of desperation and sets another…
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — Putrajaya and Malaysia’s religious authorities are only interested in political gain by demonising and prosecuting Shiah Muslims, rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) claimed today amid an ongoing crackdown here on Islam’s second largest sect members. In accusing the authorities of abusing their power, LFL co-founder and advisor Eric Paulsen…
Press Statement 17 December 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is extremely concerned with the continuing hate speech and demonisation of Shia Muslims in Malaysia where not a day goes by without state and religious authorities condemning and exaggerating the perceived threats posed by Shia and its followers. This renewed and coordinated campaign has led to two…
PETALING JAYA: The legal community Wednesday praised the Government for withdrawing two contentious Bills from Parliament for fine-tuning. In a phone interview, Christopher Leong said the Bar Council welcomed the withdrawal of the Evidence (Amendment) Bill and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) (Amendments) Bill. The Bar Council president said the proposed amendment allowing…
All eyes are now on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to ensure his government is not undermined by Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail’s silence over recurring allegations of wrongdoing made by a retired police detective. Critics say the allegations against Gani are serious: that he fabricated evidence in the black eye…
Press Statement 28 November 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is outraged at the recent Court of Appeal’s decision which re-affirmed Corporal Jenain Subi’s acquittal of killing 15-year-old Aminulrasyid in April 2010. The basis of the acquittal was premised on the false argument that the policeman had shot at the moving car in order to immobilise it…
he Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) needs to be more open and transparent on the promotion of judges, said human rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL). LFL’s co-founder and adviser Eric Paulsen told The Malaysian Insider that currently there is no real transparency in the appointment and promotion of judges. “One of the easiest indicators to…
PETALING JAYA: Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today urged the Dewan Rakyat to revoke its suspension against PKR MP N Surendran, claiming the suspension was mala fide and illegal. “Surendran’s suspension is a mockery of our supposedly most august House which is fast losing its lustre, respect and public confidence,” said LFL adviser Eric Paulsen. On…
Press Statement Member of Parliament N.Surendran’s six months’ suspension is a serious blow to democracy 16 November 2013 Lawyers for Liberty is extremely shocked and outraged at the six months’ suspension motion from Parliament that was passed against Keadilan Member of Parliament N. Surendran yesterday. The motion, put forward by the Prime Minister’s Department alleged…
Three families who lost their sons in a police shoot-out three years ago are suing the police and the government for negligence and breach of statutory duty. The suit was brought by the families of Mohd Shamil Hafiz Shafie, 15, Mohd Khairul Nizam Tuah, 20, and Mohd Hanafi Omar, 22, who were gunned down in…
PETALING JAYA: Police officer, ASP Fon Thiam Seong the Investigating Officer (IO) in the murder of D Dinesh in Aug 2012 today told the court that he did not dust the weapon used by Dinesh for fingerprints as the machete had a curved handle. This reply was given by Fon when questioned by lawyers Eric…
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — Civil rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) disagreed today with Karpal Singh’s suggestion to deregister the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) and all other race-based bodies, reminding the DAP chairman that freedom of association is a basic human right. Taking to Twitter to voice its objection to Karpal’s views, the LFL…