MALAYSIA SHOULD UPHOLD THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

PRESS STATEMENT

MALAYSIA SHOULD UPHOLD THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (the Commission) is greatly disappointed with the recent hasty deportation of the Saudi newspaper columnist Hamza Kashgari, who was under the detention by Malaysian police on 9 February, reportedly at the request of the Saudi Arabian authorities. That Kashgari was deported even after a written plea by the Commission to the Home Minister to consider his case in line with human rights principles and in particular, the non-refoulment principle under which a person facing persecution in his country should not be returned to that country, came as a shock.
 

Kashgari’s deportation will have severe negative impact on the country as it violates international human rights laws and instruments especially those enshrined in Articles 3, 10 and 11 of the Universal Declarations of Human Rights (UDHR), under which it is incumbent upon the Government to guarantee that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security; that everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing; and that everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law in a public trial. Kashgari, whose case has attracted international media headlines, has been denied these rights.

In this regard, the Commission reiterates its call to the Government, being a member of the UN Human Rights Council, to illustrate its commitment to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.
 

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“HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL” 

DATUK DR KHAW LAKE TEE
Vice Chairman
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
13 February 2012