A COLLECTIVE of organisations and advocates have expressed their deep concern and condemnation over the recent wave of attacks and death threats directed at Kelantan-born lawyer Nik Elin Zurina who has been challenging the constitutionality and validity of the Kelantan state Syariah laws.
The undersigned groups have underscored that such threats not only violate principles of human decency but also constitute a serious crime under Malaysian law.
In a joint statement, the endorsers highlighted that Section 506 of the Penal Code unequivocally deems issuing death threats a criminal offence punishable with up to seven years of imprisonment, a fine or both upon conviction.
The act of making death threats, whether in person or through social media platforms is considered an extreme and unacceptable form of extremism.
“Nik Elin’s audacious stance in questioning the constitutionality of state Syariah laws, which were enacted by the Kelantan legislative assembly has ignited a broader conversation about safeguarding the supremacy of the Federal Constitution.
“Her efforts have exposed her to a barrage of harassment, attacks, and death threats, which some believe to be a deliberate attempt to intimidate and silence her dissenting voice against injustices,” stated the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG).
The undersigned parties strongly urge the public to desist from spreading hate, making threats and promoting violence targeted at Nik. They assert that this kind of behaviour must not be tolerated and the threats are alarming signs of extremism that warrant immediate attention and action from the authorities.
Moreover, the endorsers further call upon relevant authorities to take the necessary steps to identify and prosecute the individuals responsible for these threats. By doing so, they emphasise the importance of upholding the rule of law and demonstrate that threats against those who stand up for justice and human rights will not be met with impunity.
This initiative garners support from a coalition of organisations and advocates, receiving endorsements from the JAG which is comprised of All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), Association of Women Lawyers (AWL), Family Frontiers, Justice for Sisters (JFS), KRYSS Network, Perak Women for Women Society (PWW), Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (SAWO), Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS), Sisters in Islam (SIS), Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) and Women’s Centre for Change (WCC).
Other groups like the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Freedom Film Network (FFN), Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity (MAJU), Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) also lend their support.
It is a call to uphold the principles of human rights, civil discourse, and the rule of law in the face of threats and intimidation. – Aug 25, 2023
Main photo credit: Utusan
