Silenced solidarity: US Embassy protest ends in controversial arrests

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) strongly condemns the arrest of seven individuals on the morning of 30 September at a protest in front of the US Embassy against the US complicity in war crimes in Lebanon and Gaza.

The seven protesters were taken to the Wangsa Maju Police headquarters where they were detained by the police. The reason for the arrest, as stated by the Wangsa Maju Police chief Mohammad Lazim Ismail, was for participating in an “illegal gathering.”

There is no such thing as an illegal gathering under the Peaceful Assembly Act. The concept of an “illegal assembly” in our law was removed after amendments to the Police Act. Are the police and government not aware of this?

There is also no such power of arrest for participating in an “illegal gathering” under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. The arrests of the seven protesters are thus unlawful and high-handed.

It is fundamental that a public assembly cannot be declared ‘illegal’ as it a right guaranteed under Article 10(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution. This means that the arrests made by the police on those seven individuals has no legal basis and is unconstitutional.

LFL calls upon the police to release them unconditionally, effective immediately.

Throughout the world, right-thinking people are protesting against the genocide in Palestine. It is appalling that in Malaysia, protesters are being unlawfully detained for standing up against mass murder. – LFL

Zaid Malek is director of Lawyers for Liberty.