Malaysia: Police arrest Aliran activist Sarajun Hoda at home
Event- Country
- Malaysia
- Initial Date
- Jan 29, 2018
- Final Date
- Jan 30, 2018
- Event Description
Human rights NGO Suaram has called for the authorities to state the reason for the arrest of social activist Sarajun Hoda at his residence this evening. Its executive director Sevan Doraisamy said Sarajun was arrested and taken to the Dang Wangi police station where he would probably be held until tomorrow morning for remand. "He should be allowed immediate access to a lawyer. We are trying to get more information (on the arrest)," he told FMT. Sarajun had sent a message to Sevan at 7.15pm to inform about police having arrived at his home. "Police in my house now. ASP Khairol arresting me now. Sec 298 Penal Code and 233 Multimedia Act. They are taking me to IPD Dang Wangi. Please tweet," he said. Sarajun, a member of civil rights NGO Aliran, is also a former executive council member of the organisation. The message was then posted by activist Thomas Fann, who is with the Citizen Action Group on Enforced Disappearance (CAGED), on Sarajun's Facebook wall. Meanwhile, Bersih 2.0 secretariat member Mandeep Singh told FMT that Sarajun was likely held for a posting on Facebook, adding that they were not informed about the details and the date of the posting. Section 298 of the Penal Code makes it illegal to utter words that could hurt the religious feelings of another person, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act states it is an offence to use network services to transmit any communication that is deemed offensive. If convicted under Section 298, Sarajun faces imprisonment for a maximum period of a year or fine, or both. If found guilty under Section 233, a person could be fined up to RM50,000 or be given a maximum jail term of one year, or both. Update 30 January 2018: Social activist Sarajun Hoda was freed by police early this morning, a few hours after being detained and taken to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters (IPD) last night. This was a surprise turn of events following his arrest at his house at 7.15pm. Human rights NGO Suaram's executive director Sevan Doraisamy told FMT last night that Sarajun had been arrested and taken to Dang Wangi IPD, and would probably be held until Tuesday morning for remand. However, he was released just past midnight, with his Facebook page featuring a posting of him outside the police station with friends and supporters. The timestamp read 12.22am. There was no reason given as to why he was released. Many social activists, NGOs and opposition politicians were seen outside the police station, based on photos posted on his Facebook page. Among them were human rights lawyers Siti Kasim and Ambiga Sreenevasan, as well as DAP's Klang MP Charles Santiago. Siti Kasim had earlier posted on Facebook that she was at Dang Wangi IPD and that Sarajun had been "detained under Section 298 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act". "At first police refused to allow any lawyer to see him but when reminded that any person arrested has the right to see a lawyer under S28(a) CPC, they relented," she said. Sarajun had sent a message to Sevan at 7.15pm to tell him that police were at his home. "Police in my house now. ASP Khairol arresting me now. Sec 298 Penal Code and 233 Multimedia Act. They are taking me to IPD Dang Wangi. Please tweet," he said. Sarajun, a member of civil rights NGO Aliran, is also a former executive council member of the organisation. That message was posted on Sarajun's Facebook wall by activist Thomas Fann, who is with the Citizen Action Group on Enforced Disappearance (CAGED). Section 298 of the Penal Code makes it illegal to utter words that could hurt the religious feelings of another person, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act states it is an offence to use network services to transmit any communication that is deemed offensive. If convicted under Section 298, Sarajun faces imprisonment for a maximum period of a year, or fine, or both. If found guilty under Section 233, a person could be fined up to RM50,000 or be given a maximum jail term of one year, or both.
- Impact of Event
- 1
- Gender of HRD
- Man
- Violation
- Enactment of repressive legislation and policies
- Judicial Harassment
- Rights Concerned
- Freedom of Religion and Belief
- Online
- HRD
- NGO staff
- Perpetrator-State
- Police
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Pending
- Event Location
Latitude: 3.139003
Longitude: 101.686855
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 29 January 2018, social activist Sarajun Hoda was arrested at his residence with the allegation of violating Section 298 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. He was eventually released after hours of interrogation.