Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Terrified of Losing 72 Heavenly Virgins, Islamic State Fighters Reportedly ‘Run Away’ from a Certain Type of Soldier
By Sharona Schwartz
Radical Islamists who decide to embark on suicidal missions often do so with the expectation they will be rewarded with 72 virgins if they die in battle; however, it turns out there is one major caveat to the scenario, according to a U.S. lawmaker.
That is, if they are killed by a woman, the deal is off.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of the House International Relations Committee, told the New York Post, “These ISIL [Islamic State] soldiers apparently believed that if they were killed in battle, they went to paradise as long as they were killed by a man.”
The issue is of some relevance, especially in Iraq, where female recruits are among the ranks of the Kurdish peshmerga forces, now fighting the Islamic State jihadist group.
“[T]hese female soldiers were communicating their satisfaction with the fact that they had taken the fight to ISIL and had stopped the advance, turned back the advance — slayed a number of these fighters, who would then run away,” Royce said adding that the female fighters have been fighting “very bravely.”
Royce said heard at a meeting with the Kurdish foreign minister that female fighters were “laughing” when they saw Islamic State jihadists flee from them.
“I think [the Islamic State] were more afraid of us than of the men,” a female Kurdish fighter named Tekoshin told AFP, the New York Post noted. “They believe they’ll go to hell if they die at a woman’s hands.”
Al-Monitor, an online publication that covers the Middle East, ran a profile on the female battalions in August. While the battalions were set up in 1996, the female peshmerga fighters are being further motivated by hardline rules being imposed on women by the Sunni radical group including enforced wearing of Afghanistan-style head-to-toe covering of women, marrying women off against their will and female genital mutilation, Al-Monitor reported.
The female peshmerga fighters are now on the front lines against the Islamic State jihadists.
Al-Monitor reported that there are four female battalions, including some recruits who are mothers, while the highest ranking women are colonels.
“We are now on the battlefield, but I’m married and I have a daughter, whom I left with my parents to fight against extremists. I’m happy to perform my national duty to defend Kurdistan,” one fighter told Al-Monitor.
Radical Islamists who decide to embark on suicidal missions often do so with the expectation they will be rewarded with 72 virgins if they die in battle; however, it turns out there is one major caveat to the scenario, according to a U.S. lawmaker.
That is, if they are killed by a woman, the deal is off.
Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of the House International Relations Committee, told the New York Post, “These ISIL [Islamic State] soldiers apparently believed that if they were killed in battle, they went to paradise as long as they were killed by a man.”
The issue is of some relevance, especially in Iraq, where female recruits are among the ranks of the Kurdish peshmerga forces, now fighting the Islamic State jihadist group.
“[T]hese female soldiers were communicating their satisfaction with the fact that they had taken the fight to ISIL and had stopped the advance, turned back the advance — slayed a number of these fighters, who would then run away,” Royce said adding that the female fighters have been fighting “very bravely.”
Royce said heard at a meeting with the Kurdish foreign minister that female fighters were “laughing” when they saw Islamic State jihadists flee from them.
“I think [the Islamic State] were more afraid of us than of the men,” a female Kurdish fighter named Tekoshin told AFP, the New York Post noted. “They believe they’ll go to hell if they die at a woman’s hands.”
Al-Monitor, an online publication that covers the Middle East, ran a profile on the female battalions in August. While the battalions were set up in 1996, the female peshmerga fighters are being further motivated by hardline rules being imposed on women by the Sunni radical group including enforced wearing of Afghanistan-style head-to-toe covering of women, marrying women off against their will and female genital mutilation, Al-Monitor reported.
The female peshmerga fighters are now on the front lines against the Islamic State jihadists.
Al-Monitor reported that there are four female battalions, including some recruits who are mothers, while the highest ranking women are colonels.
“We are now on the battlefield, but I’m married and I have a daughter, whom I left with my parents to fight against extremists. I’m happy to perform my national duty to defend Kurdistan,” one fighter told Al-Monitor.
Labels:
ISIS
ISIS thugs raping thousands to populate caliphate
By Jamie Schram
Islamic State barbarians are raping thousands of women in Iraq and Syria to mass-produce spawn who’ll follow in their vile footsteps, The Post has learned.
Young militants are running wild to the chagrin of their more sophisticated and p.r.-savvy commanders, an Iraqi official told The Post.
The motivation of the rapists is twofold: They want to make ISIS babies — and they are just plain out for twisted thrills.
“You have these young ISIS fighters carrying machine guns and they . . . want to have sex,” the official said.
But their commanders, who are focused on their savage war, have ordered the young fighters to keep their zippers closed.
“The ISIS commanders take a more official position,” the source said. “They don’t want them to mess around with the women. They only want them to fight.”
The young rebels, however, aren’t listening to their commanders; they claim that they’re answering to a higher calling.
“The fighters say that they’ve been ordered to have sex by a cleric in Saudi Arabia,” the Iraqi official said. “It’s really just an excuse.”
Each rapist’s goal is to impregnate multiple women and breed children within their villages and towns, he said, adding, “They want to intertwine themselves within the communities.
“They want to become part of the fabric of the cities they control so they can live on for generations.”
ISIS, which has taken over large swaths of Iraq and Syria, ultimately wants to become a caliphate, or supreme Islamic state, which would rule Muslim communities around the world.
The official insisted that ISIS is already running the cities it’s seized like a regular government.
“However psychotic and delusional they are, they have put in place their own government that offers services to the residents in these captured territories,” the official said.
“They issue passports to them. They issue license plates to them for their vehicles.
“And they also collect taxes from them, but they are doing that by putting guns to people’s heads. It’s basically extortion.”
ISIS has $2 billion at its disposal, according to the official. Most of the money is coming from the terror group’s takeover of many of Iraq’s rich oil fields.
“ISIS is turning around and selling the oil on the black market,’’ the officials said.
“That’s the primary way that they’re funding their war.”
Islamic State barbarians are raping thousands of women in Iraq and Syria to mass-produce spawn who’ll follow in their vile footsteps, The Post has learned.
Young militants are running wild to the chagrin of their more sophisticated and p.r.-savvy commanders, an Iraqi official told The Post.
The motivation of the rapists is twofold: They want to make ISIS babies — and they are just plain out for twisted thrills.
“You have these young ISIS fighters carrying machine guns and they . . . want to have sex,” the official said.
But their commanders, who are focused on their savage war, have ordered the young fighters to keep their zippers closed.
“The ISIS commanders take a more official position,” the source said. “They don’t want them to mess around with the women. They only want them to fight.”
The young rebels, however, aren’t listening to their commanders; they claim that they’re answering to a higher calling.
“The fighters say that they’ve been ordered to have sex by a cleric in Saudi Arabia,” the Iraqi official said. “It’s really just an excuse.”
Each rapist’s goal is to impregnate multiple women and breed children within their villages and towns, he said, adding, “They want to intertwine themselves within the communities.
“They want to become part of the fabric of the cities they control so they can live on for generations.”
ISIS, which has taken over large swaths of Iraq and Syria, ultimately wants to become a caliphate, or supreme Islamic state, which would rule Muslim communities around the world.
The official insisted that ISIS is already running the cities it’s seized like a regular government.
“However psychotic and delusional they are, they have put in place their own government that offers services to the residents in these captured territories,” the official said.
“They issue passports to them. They issue license plates to them for their vehicles.
“And they also collect taxes from them, but they are doing that by putting guns to people’s heads. It’s basically extortion.”
ISIS has $2 billion at its disposal, according to the official. Most of the money is coming from the terror group’s takeover of many of Iraq’s rich oil fields.
“ISIS is turning around and selling the oil on the black market,’’ the officials said.
“That’s the primary way that they’re funding their war.”
Labels:
ISIS
PKR disappointed by palace’s treatment of Wan Azizah
PKR today said it felt "extreme regret" over the Selangor palace's treatment of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's nomination as Selangor menteri besar (MB).
It said the palace's appointment of the new Selangor MB, Mohamed Azmin Ali, had tainted the constitutional monarch system and was not in line with the state constitution and the principle of parliamentary democracy.
"The PKR central leadership council (MPP) expresses extreme regret over the treatment given by the palace to the nomination of Datuk Seri Wan Azizah, which had fulfilled the requirements of the Selangor state laws with the support of the 30 assemblymen.
"MPP also disagrees with the way the palace handled the nomination process of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was not summoned for an audience despite having clear majority support," it said in a statement.
MPP said that it had accepted Azmin's appointment because it wished to respect Dr Wan Azizah's decision not to prolong the MB saga.
"MPP has decided to respect Datuk Dr Wan Azizah’s decision to withdraw her candidacy so that this issue can be resolved immediately," it said.
"MPP has also agreed with the proposal by Dr Wan Azizah that Azmin is brought forward as the Selangor MB candidate so that Azmin Ali's nomination is from the party, in accordance with democratic practices."
The party said this was in line with its stance that the constitution and sovereignty of the law be protected at all times.
But it said the process should not be made a precedent, as it had not been done according to the law.
The Selangor palace today appointed Azmin, the PKR deputy president, as the new Selangor MB.
Azmin, who is the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman, will take the oath of office before the Sultan of Selangor at Istana Alam Shah, Klang, at 10.30am tomorrow.
He will be the 15th Selangor MB.
Over the last few weeks, PKR had repeatedly said it was sticking to its stand of nominating only Dr Wan Azizah for the MB post, despite reprimands from the Selangor palace over its decision to submit only one name.
DAP and PKR had submitted only Dr Wan Azizah's name for the post, although DAP was open to the idea of Azmin replacing Khalid.
PAS, however, broke ranks with its partners when its president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, submitted three names to the palace.
The three are said to be Dr Idris Ahmad (PKR-Ijok), Dr Yakub Sapari (PKR-Kota Anggerik) and Iskandar Samad, the Selangor PAS commissioner, who is also an exco member and Cempaka assemblyman.
It is not known if PKR and DAP submitted more names following the sultan’s reprimand, who had asked each Pakatan Rakyat (PR) party to submit more than two names.
Last week, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah reportedly interviewed and shortlisted three candidates for the job.
Apart from Azmin, he had also interviewed Iskandar and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, despite the Islamist party stating it would not stake a claim for the position. – September 22, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pkr-disappointed-by-palaces-treatment-of-wan-azizah#sthash.PZbpD3L3.dpuf
It said the palace's appointment of the new Selangor MB, Mohamed Azmin Ali, had tainted the constitutional monarch system and was not in line with the state constitution and the principle of parliamentary democracy.
"The PKR central leadership council (MPP) expresses extreme regret over the treatment given by the palace to the nomination of Datuk Seri Wan Azizah, which had fulfilled the requirements of the Selangor state laws with the support of the 30 assemblymen.
"MPP also disagrees with the way the palace handled the nomination process of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was not summoned for an audience despite having clear majority support," it said in a statement.
MPP said that it had accepted Azmin's appointment because it wished to respect Dr Wan Azizah's decision not to prolong the MB saga.
"MPP has decided to respect Datuk Dr Wan Azizah’s decision to withdraw her candidacy so that this issue can be resolved immediately," it said.
"MPP has also agreed with the proposal by Dr Wan Azizah that Azmin is brought forward as the Selangor MB candidate so that Azmin Ali's nomination is from the party, in accordance with democratic practices."
The party said this was in line with its stance that the constitution and sovereignty of the law be protected at all times.
But it said the process should not be made a precedent, as it had not been done according to the law.
The Selangor palace today appointed Azmin, the PKR deputy president, as the new Selangor MB.
Azmin, who is the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman, will take the oath of office before the Sultan of Selangor at Istana Alam Shah, Klang, at 10.30am tomorrow.
He will be the 15th Selangor MB.
Over the last few weeks, PKR had repeatedly said it was sticking to its stand of nominating only Dr Wan Azizah for the MB post, despite reprimands from the Selangor palace over its decision to submit only one name.
DAP and PKR had submitted only Dr Wan Azizah's name for the post, although DAP was open to the idea of Azmin replacing Khalid.
PAS, however, broke ranks with its partners when its president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, submitted three names to the palace.
The three are said to be Dr Idris Ahmad (PKR-Ijok), Dr Yakub Sapari (PKR-Kota Anggerik) and Iskandar Samad, the Selangor PAS commissioner, who is also an exco member and Cempaka assemblyman.
It is not known if PKR and DAP submitted more names following the sultan’s reprimand, who had asked each Pakatan Rakyat (PR) party to submit more than two names.
Last week, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah reportedly interviewed and shortlisted three candidates for the job.
Apart from Azmin, he had also interviewed Iskandar and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, despite the Islamist party stating it would not stake a claim for the position. – September 22, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pkr-disappointed-by-palaces-treatment-of-wan-azizah#sthash.PZbpD3L3.dpuf
Zahid swears to God sedition probes to go on
This despite calls for a moratorium, following the government’s decision to review the Act and the attorney-general's announcement that all cases under the Act will be reviewed.
"As the minister responsible for the Royal Malaysian Police, wallahi billahi tallahi (I swear to Allah) that if police reports are lodged against any individual who impinged on a sensitive issue, the police will start investigations immediately, if possible within 24 hours," he said.
He said this in a speech at an Umno Lumut event on Sept 20. A 5-minute video recording of the speech was uploaded onto Youtube by Perak BN yesterday.
In the speech, Zahid (left) said although he can promise an investigation, the decision on whether or not to prosecute can only be made by the attorney-general.
Following that, he stressed, the decision to convict lies with the judiciary and he has no intentions to take those powers away.
"Some of you have asked, 'why did the police arrest them?', 'why didn’t the police take action?' We don’t want to take over the powers vested upon the attorney-general and the court.
"I just want to say that if the court decides a person is guilty, the police will immediately take him to prison. The prisons are under my control," he said, without elaborating on the treatment of prisoners.
An updated version of Sedition Act
The minister also vowed that "elements within the Sedition Act will be maintained in the National Harmony Act", which the government is mulling as a replacement.
"Not only that, (we want) elements that are not in the Sedition Act but are relevant today, especially the social media.
"We want the act to be strengthened so that action can be taken against social media users if the touch on sensitive issues," he said in a speech, a video of which was uploaded by BN Perak on Youtube yesterday.
He, however, added that the draft of the National Harmony Act has yet to be tabled to cabinet.
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in 2012 promised to repeal the Sedition Act.
However, the PM earlier this month said the government is still reviewing whether to amend or replace the Act.
A journalist, lawyers, activists, students and a law lecturer are facing action under the Sedition Act.
Labels:
Home Minister,
Seditious
We’ll accept the decision although it’s wrong
PKR’s Central Leadership Council stresses that Azmin’s appointment is not in accordance with the Selangor state constitution.
PETALING JAYA: PKR’s Central Leadership Council (MPP) today announced that they were sorely disappointed with the process used by the Selangor palace in the appointment of Azmin Ali as Selangor’s new Menteri Besar.
While unanimously giving their deputy president their full endorsement, PKR’s MPP nevertheless felt their president Wan Azizah, who was their sole candidate for the post from the start, was treated unfairly by the Selangor palace.
The MPP was also of the opinion that the appointment of Azmin was not in accordance with the laws as stipulated in the Selangor state constitution but had agreed to put aside their differences with the palace, in the interests of the people of Selangor.
Saying it was their wish that the political crisis in Selangor be resolved quickly and amicably for the sake of the people, the leaders agreed with Wan Azizah that her candidacy be withdrawn despite her enjoying the support of the majority of state assemblypersons.
This being said, the MPP stressed that this process should not be made a precedent for future appointments of the post of MB.
PETALING JAYA: PKR’s Central Leadership Council (MPP) today announced that they were sorely disappointed with the process used by the Selangor palace in the appointment of Azmin Ali as Selangor’s new Menteri Besar.
While unanimously giving their deputy president their full endorsement, PKR’s MPP nevertheless felt their president Wan Azizah, who was their sole candidate for the post from the start, was treated unfairly by the Selangor palace.
The MPP was also of the opinion that the appointment of Azmin was not in accordance with the laws as stipulated in the Selangor state constitution but had agreed to put aside their differences with the palace, in the interests of the people of Selangor.
Saying it was their wish that the political crisis in Selangor be resolved quickly and amicably for the sake of the people, the leaders agreed with Wan Azizah that her candidacy be withdrawn despite her enjoying the support of the majority of state assemblypersons.
This being said, the MPP stressed that this process should not be made a precedent for future appointments of the post of MB.
Labels:
PKR
Malaysia Tightens the Sedition Screws Again
Human rights campaigners sound the alarm
By Asia Sentinel,
Malaysia is continuing its drastic crackdown on dissent, sentencing student activist Adam Adli Halim to a year in jail for statements he made in May at a forum in Kuala Lumpur in May accusing the government of voter fraud.
“Adam Adli is the latest victim of this sustained assault against freedom of expression in Malaysia,” according to a statement by Phil Robertson of the Bangkok branch of Human Rights Watch. “By throwing people in prison for political speech, Prime Minister Najib and his government are showing the kind of authoritarian tendencies one usually associates with single-party rule rather than democracy."
The darkening picture is one of a government increasingly concerned that, after 50-odd years in power, it is losing its grip although the opposition is in equal disarray from internal dissention. It is also clear that the law is being used selectively, with inflammatory statements made by the likes of Ibrahim Ali, the firebrand leader of the Malay supremacy NGO Perkasa, and other Malay supremacists almost calling to drive minorities out of the country ignored by the authorities.
So far, 14 people have been arrested for sedition over the past year, at least one for statements made as long as two years ago. Another was arrested over comments earlier this year about a five-year-old political controversy.
The first was the forner Perak State Governor, Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, from the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia, or PAS, who allegedly defamed Najib in remarks he made in Ipoh in April of 2012 concerning the 2009 Perak political crisis. Widespread critics have accused Najib of bribing three Perak state assembly members to switch from the opposition to independent, allowing the Barisan Nasional to oust the state government won by the opposition in the 2009 election.
The second case involves Dr. Azmi Sharom, a University of Malaya professor, who was charged over comments printed in a column in the Malay Mail over the 2009 events in Perak. Those who read the column have been unable to figure out just what the charge relates to, illustrating the problem with the law, which critics say is so vague that it can be used against almost any form of speech.
Najib promised to do away with the sedition law, the even more draconian Internal Security Act, which allows for unlimited detention without trial, and elements of the Printing Presses Act which limit the establishment of a free press. However, after the Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition, and particularly the United Malays National Organization lost the popular vote to the opposition for the first time since 1969 – although retaining a majority in parliament through gerrymandering – Najib came under a blistering campaign from former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his allies, who accused him of weakness in corralling dissent
As a result, while the Internal Security Act was repealed, it was replaced with one almost equally as strict, much of it based on the US Patriot Act pushed through in the hysteria of the 9/11 destruction of the World Trade Center in New York. The Printing and Presses Act was modified slightly but it has continued to hamstring the independent press. The Sedition Act has remained in place and is being used as a weapon to throttle almost any comment by the opposition. Those found guilty face the possibility of five years in prison and a fine of RM5,000.
“The government of Prime Minister Najib Razak should repeal the Sedition Act, which has repeatedly been used to prosecute people for political purposes in violation of the right to freedom of expression,” Human Rights Watch said in its statement. “The government is increasingly using the Sedition Act to instill fear and silence in political opponents and critics.
Among the 14, four opposition leaders have been charged including Party Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Tian Chua and Democratic Action Party (DAP) Vice President Teresa Kok, along with PKR Vice President N. Surendran and Khalid Samad of Parti Islam se-Malaysia
Surendran was charged after he attacked an appellate court decision against Opposition Leader Anwar Irbrahim as an “attempt to jail the opposition leader of Malaysia,” saying Prime Minister Najib was responsible, a statement that critics believe holds a good deal of truth. International rights organizations have accused the government of trumping up charges of sodomy against Anwar in an effort to thwart the opposition from coming to power.
A High Court in Kuala Lumpur acquitted Anwar on the basis that physical evidence had been irrevocably tainted, only to have the prosecution appeal the case to the appellate court. The Federal Court, Malaysia’s top tribunal, is expected to rule on Anwar’s appeal in late October. The opposition leader is said to be expecting to be jailed again.
In June, authorities charged Kok with sedition for a satirical Chinese New Year video “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014,” which depicts Kok as host of a talk show program with three volunteers playing characters before a small audience. The video makes no mention of any individual or the government although it is an extremely amateurish attempt to make fun of affirs in Malaysia, with one of the three characters a fat woman who some have suggested was a caricature of Najib’s portly wife, Rosmah Mansor
Others charged include five activists and Tian Chua, also a DAP strategist, with sedition for remarks made more than a year ago, on May 13, 2013, in Kuala Lumpur accusing the government, accusing the government of pervasive vote fraud and suggesting that under current election regulations, the opposition coalition could never win an election.
On Sept.5, Safwan Anang, former chair of Malaysian Students Solidarity, an activist group, received 10 months in prison, although he was released on RM 15,000 ($4,700) bail pending his appeal. Cases are still pending against Tian, the activists Hishamuddin Rais, Haris Ibrahim, and Tamrin bin Abdul Ghafar.
As Asia Sentinel reported earlier this month, Susan Loone, a journalist at Malaysiakini, an online newspaper critical of the government and ruling coalition, was arrested and questioned for nine hours on suspicion of sedition for her article that included statements by Phee Boone Poh, a Penang State executive councilor. Police had earlier detained Phee because of his role as chairman of the Penang People’s Voluntary Patrol, an auxiliary force connected with the state government that the inspector general of police alleges is illegal. Loone’s story reported Phee saying that during four hours of police questioning he was “treated like a criminal.”
The government has also investigated several senior opposition politicians but ultimately charged them with sections of the penal code that severely restrict expression, according to Huan Rights Watch. On August 28, the authorities charged Rafizi Ramli, a senior member of the PKR and member of parliament, with “intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace” after he suggested that UMNO was attempting to undermine and destroy the PKR leadership in Selangor State by using policies emphasizing race and religion.
“The Malaysian government has apparently decided that its vaguely worded Sedition Act is its new catch-all charge against its most vocal critics,” Human Rights Watch’s Robertson said. “Prime Minister Najib should realize that throwing activists and opposition leaders in jail for what they say is a slippery slope to authoritarian rule.”
By Asia Sentinel,
Malaysia is continuing its drastic crackdown on dissent, sentencing student activist Adam Adli Halim to a year in jail for statements he made in May at a forum in Kuala Lumpur in May accusing the government of voter fraud.
“Adam Adli is the latest victim of this sustained assault against freedom of expression in Malaysia,” according to a statement by Phil Robertson of the Bangkok branch of Human Rights Watch. “By throwing people in prison for political speech, Prime Minister Najib and his government are showing the kind of authoritarian tendencies one usually associates with single-party rule rather than democracy."
The darkening picture is one of a government increasingly concerned that, after 50-odd years in power, it is losing its grip although the opposition is in equal disarray from internal dissention. It is also clear that the law is being used selectively, with inflammatory statements made by the likes of Ibrahim Ali, the firebrand leader of the Malay supremacy NGO Perkasa, and other Malay supremacists almost calling to drive minorities out of the country ignored by the authorities.
So far, 14 people have been arrested for sedition over the past year, at least one for statements made as long as two years ago. Another was arrested over comments earlier this year about a five-year-old political controversy.
The first was the forner Perak State Governor, Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, from the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia, or PAS, who allegedly defamed Najib in remarks he made in Ipoh in April of 2012 concerning the 2009 Perak political crisis. Widespread critics have accused Najib of bribing three Perak state assembly members to switch from the opposition to independent, allowing the Barisan Nasional to oust the state government won by the opposition in the 2009 election.
The second case involves Dr. Azmi Sharom, a University of Malaya professor, who was charged over comments printed in a column in the Malay Mail over the 2009 events in Perak. Those who read the column have been unable to figure out just what the charge relates to, illustrating the problem with the law, which critics say is so vague that it can be used against almost any form of speech.
Najib promised to do away with the sedition law, the even more draconian Internal Security Act, which allows for unlimited detention without trial, and elements of the Printing Presses Act which limit the establishment of a free press. However, after the Barisan Nasional, the ruling national coalition, and particularly the United Malays National Organization lost the popular vote to the opposition for the first time since 1969 – although retaining a majority in parliament through gerrymandering – Najib came under a blistering campaign from former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his allies, who accused him of weakness in corralling dissent
As a result, while the Internal Security Act was repealed, it was replaced with one almost equally as strict, much of it based on the US Patriot Act pushed through in the hysteria of the 9/11 destruction of the World Trade Center in New York. The Printing and Presses Act was modified slightly but it has continued to hamstring the independent press. The Sedition Act has remained in place and is being used as a weapon to throttle almost any comment by the opposition. Those found guilty face the possibility of five years in prison and a fine of RM5,000.
“The government of Prime Minister Najib Razak should repeal the Sedition Act, which has repeatedly been used to prosecute people for political purposes in violation of the right to freedom of expression,” Human Rights Watch said in its statement. “The government is increasingly using the Sedition Act to instill fear and silence in political opponents and critics.
Among the 14, four opposition leaders have been charged including Party Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Tian Chua and Democratic Action Party (DAP) Vice President Teresa Kok, along with PKR Vice President N. Surendran and Khalid Samad of Parti Islam se-Malaysia
Surendran was charged after he attacked an appellate court decision against Opposition Leader Anwar Irbrahim as an “attempt to jail the opposition leader of Malaysia,” saying Prime Minister Najib was responsible, a statement that critics believe holds a good deal of truth. International rights organizations have accused the government of trumping up charges of sodomy against Anwar in an effort to thwart the opposition from coming to power.
A High Court in Kuala Lumpur acquitted Anwar on the basis that physical evidence had been irrevocably tainted, only to have the prosecution appeal the case to the appellate court. The Federal Court, Malaysia’s top tribunal, is expected to rule on Anwar’s appeal in late October. The opposition leader is said to be expecting to be jailed again.
In June, authorities charged Kok with sedition for a satirical Chinese New Year video “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014,” which depicts Kok as host of a talk show program with three volunteers playing characters before a small audience. The video makes no mention of any individual or the government although it is an extremely amateurish attempt to make fun of affirs in Malaysia, with one of the three characters a fat woman who some have suggested was a caricature of Najib’s portly wife, Rosmah Mansor
Others charged include five activists and Tian Chua, also a DAP strategist, with sedition for remarks made more than a year ago, on May 13, 2013, in Kuala Lumpur accusing the government, accusing the government of pervasive vote fraud and suggesting that under current election regulations, the opposition coalition could never win an election.
On Sept.5, Safwan Anang, former chair of Malaysian Students Solidarity, an activist group, received 10 months in prison, although he was released on RM 15,000 ($4,700) bail pending his appeal. Cases are still pending against Tian, the activists Hishamuddin Rais, Haris Ibrahim, and Tamrin bin Abdul Ghafar.
As Asia Sentinel reported earlier this month, Susan Loone, a journalist at Malaysiakini, an online newspaper critical of the government and ruling coalition, was arrested and questioned for nine hours on suspicion of sedition for her article that included statements by Phee Boone Poh, a Penang State executive councilor. Police had earlier detained Phee because of his role as chairman of the Penang People’s Voluntary Patrol, an auxiliary force connected with the state government that the inspector general of police alleges is illegal. Loone’s story reported Phee saying that during four hours of police questioning he was “treated like a criminal.”
The government has also investigated several senior opposition politicians but ultimately charged them with sections of the penal code that severely restrict expression, according to Huan Rights Watch. On August 28, the authorities charged Rafizi Ramli, a senior member of the PKR and member of parliament, with “intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace” after he suggested that UMNO was attempting to undermine and destroy the PKR leadership in Selangor State by using policies emphasizing race and religion.
“The Malaysian government has apparently decided that its vaguely worded Sedition Act is its new catch-all charge against its most vocal critics,” Human Rights Watch’s Robertson said. “Prime Minister Najib should realize that throwing activists and opposition leaders in jail for what they say is a slippery slope to authoritarian rule.”
Labels:
Seditious
Azmin Ali Is New Selangor Menteri Besar
SHAH ALAM, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblyman and PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali has been named as the new Selangor Menteri Besar, replacing Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
The Sultan of Selangor's Private Secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani when contacted by Bernama today confirmed that the letter of appointment had been delivered to him.
"Yes, I confirm that the letter of appointment (as the new Menteri Besar) has been delivered to Mohamed Azmin Ali today. The Selangor Palace will issue a statement as to why Mohamed Azmin was named as the new Menteri Besar of Selangor," he said.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new Menteri Besar is set for tomorrow at Istana Alam Shah, Klang starting 10.30am.
The names of Azmin, Chempaka assemblyman Iskandar Samad and Sijangkang assemblyman Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi were submitted to the Sultan for consideration.
Azmin when met by reporters at the PKR headquarters in Damansara confirmed receiving the letter of appointment in the afternoon and was positive in his reply about accepting the post.
The letter also requested Mohamed Azmin, who celebrated his 50th birthday on Aug 25, to attend the swearing-in ceremony that will be held at the Alam Shah Palace tomorrow.
"I received the letter at about 3pm. It was the letter of appointment from the Sultan of Selangor's Private Secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani. The letter said the Sultan of Selangor had chosen me to be the next Menteri Besar of Selangor, effective Sept 23, 2014," he said after attending an emergency political bureau meeting at the PKR headquarters today.
Azmin said upon receiving the letter he quickly informed PKR's de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the emergency meeting was held at 5pm.
"I wish to thank the PKR party president and all my associates who unanimously nominated me for the post of the Menteri Besar," he said.
The confirmation by Mohamad Munir through the letter dated Sept 22, and Azmin's acceptance of the appointment, ended months of speculation surrounding the embattled Abdul Khalid.
The Sultan's Private Secretary had earlier said that the name of Abdul Khalid's successor would only be revealed tomorrow morning because at that time Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had not given his consent to make the announcement.
Mohamad Munir when asked about the letter being circulated widely in the social media, said it was beyond their control.
"We certainly wanted to announce the name and the reason for the palace to appoint Mohamed Azmin as the Menteri Besar of Selangor, tomorrow but I cannot prevent the contents of the letter from being released in the social media," he said.
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