Opposition leader 'no ordinary convict but a prisoner of conscience'
FMT
KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyers for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, describing him as a prisoner of conscience, have rejected government assertions that he would be treated like any other convict while in prison.
N Surendran and Latheefa Koya said the conviction and jail sentenced imposed on Anwar had been heavily criticised, and the governments of major countries had stated their disapproval.
To most Malaysians the jailing of Anwar Ibrahim was a wrongful and repugnant act and the Barisan Nasional ignored this at its own peril, they said in a statement today.
“Anwar must be treated as a ‘prisoner of conscience’, and not as if he were an ordinary convict. Even the Burmese military regime placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, and did not send her to an ordinary jail. At the very least, Anwar Ibrahim deserves the same treatment.”
They said no one was convinced by the ostrich-like pretence of Barisan Nasional leaders that this case is no different from any other ordinary criminal case.
Malaysia’s international reputation was taking a heavy beating, and as a trading nation, the country could not afford to ignore world opinion, they said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyers for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, describing him as a prisoner of conscience, have rejected government assertions that he would be treated like any other convict while in prison.
N Surendran and Latheefa Koya said the conviction and jail sentenced imposed on Anwar had been heavily criticised, and the governments of major countries had stated their disapproval.
To most Malaysians the jailing of Anwar Ibrahim was a wrongful and repugnant act and the Barisan Nasional ignored this at its own peril, they said in a statement today.
“Anwar must be treated as a ‘prisoner of conscience’, and not as if he were an ordinary convict. Even the Burmese military regime placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, and did not send her to an ordinary jail. At the very least, Anwar Ibrahim deserves the same treatment.”
They said no one was convinced by the ostrich-like pretence of Barisan Nasional leaders that this case is no different from any other ordinary criminal case.
Malaysia’s international reputation was taking a heavy beating, and as a trading nation, the country could not afford to ignore world opinion, they said.
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