Cops Summon Lgbt Activist For Questioning Over Un Speech

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The police have summoned LGBT activist Numan Afifi for questioning over a speech he delivered during Malaysia's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, last month
Numan told Malaysiakini that an inspector from Bukit Aman's Classified Crimes Investigation Department contacted him this morning regarding the matter
The activist was told to present himself at the police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur next Friday (April 26)
“They said it was about a speech that was made in Geneva,” he added
According to Numan, the inspector did not specify which section of the law he would be questioned under, but confirmed that an investigation paper has been opened against him
Malaysiakini has contacted the police for details
Numan suspects police reports were lodged over his speech, but said that he would not be cowed
“Obviously, freedom of speech should be guaranteed and all these police reports (against me) are ridiculous
“It is designed to intimidate and harass human rights defenders. Of course, I will keep speaking up for human rights,” he added
Speech concerned LGBT rights in M'siaOn March 14, Numan had spoken at the UN as an International Lesbian and Gay Association delegate on behalf of a coalition of Malaysian NGOs working on gender identity and sexual orientation issues
During the UPR, various countries had given Malaysia 11 recommendations relating to gender identity and sexual orientation but the country accepted only one while “noting” the remaining 10
“My speech was commenting on the state of LGBT rights in Malaysia because it was the UPR
“[...] We were concerned that Malaysia only noted 10 (of the recommendations) and we insist that the government protect LGBT people in Malaysia because we are marginalised
“We also commented on the Women's March because the participation of LGBT people was particularly sensationalised,” Numan explained
Numan’s speech at the UN can be found here from minutes 40:55 to 42:49
‘None of police’s business’Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has expressed concern over the police's move to question Numan
Saifuddin Abdullah @saifuddinabdI heard abt this from our friends this morning. Am very concern. Pls update us
Honey Tan@honeyean#HumanRightsDefender facing #reprisals for engaging in the #UPR process? @UPRinfo @davidakaye @saifuddinabd @UN https://twitter.com/numanafifi/status/1118034569486225408 …163:47 PM - Apr 16, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Saifuddin Abdullah 's other Tweets
Malaysia's Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Eric Paulsen similarly condemned the move
“This is not appropriate. What human rights defenders say in these forums is none of the police's business, certainly should not be subject to investigation,” he tweeted
The Coalition of Malaysian NGOs in the UPR Process (Comango) urged the police and Home Ministry to stop intimidating human rights defenders
“The baseless investigation against Numan marks a new low in terms of state reprisal against human rights defenders in Malaysia
“Comango condemns any act of inquiring into human rights defenders' activities within and outside the country without reasonable cause,” it added in a statement. - Mkini

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