Lawyers For Liberty Questions Police Move To Deport 5 Egyptians

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Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Koya.PETALING JAYA: Lawyers for Liberty today said the inspector-general of police’s defence of the deportation of five Egyptians is based on unproven allegations
Its executive director Latheefa Koya questioned why the Egyptians, believed to have committed serious offences on Malaysian soil, were not charged formally in court
“Surely, offences committed in Malaysia must be tried here, and not in Egypt
“They should have been given the opportunity to defend themselves in court
“Instead, the IGP has made serious allegations against them through a press statement without affording them an opportunity to answer
“These remain unproven allegations supported by no evidence,” she said in a statement today
IGP Fuzi Harun, in a statement today, had confirmed the deportation of five Egyptian members of the Muslim Brotherhood
He claimed they had aided foreign terrorist elements in the country and were thus suspected to have committed Offences under Part VIA of the Penal Code
Latheefa said this claim was quite incomprehensible, from both a legal and enforcement standpoint
Secondly, she said Malaysia has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation and neither does it regard it as so
“It is thus unacceptable that the IGP relies on this to support the decision to deport them
“The Muslim Brotherhood is a legitimate group carrying on a political struggle in Egypt, while being tyrannised by the military regime in Cairo
“Thirdly, the IGP admits to knowledge that these Egyptians are members of the Muslim Brotherhood
“It is hence known to the IGP and the Malaysian government that they will face torture, denial of due process or execution in Egypt
“Hence, their deportation is in breach of the principle of non-refoulement, and the international obligations of Malaysia.”Latheefa said throughout their arrest and detention in Malaysia, their families and lawyers were kept in the dark as to their situation
“They had no opportunity to meet lawyers, give instructions or make the necessary representations to the courts here
“This is a denial of due process
“We protest in the strongest terms the deportation and treatment of these men which is a blot upon this country,” she added
Earlier, Amnesty International Malaysia had also said the Egyptians deported were now at risk of enforced disappearance, torture, prolonged detention and unfair trials
“We urge the Malaysian government to respect the principle of non-refoulement and ensure that those at risk of persecution or risk of irreparable harm in another country, including torture, are not deported,” said the group’s executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu
In his statement, Fuzi said police had also deported a Tunisian suspected of being linked to Islamist militant groups abroad
The Tunisian and one of the Egyptians deported were members of Ansar al-Sharia al-Tunisia, which is listed as a terrorist group by the United Nations, he said
The two, both in their early 20s, had allegedly used fake passports to enter Malaysia with the intention of travelling to and launching an attack in a third country, police said
“Members of this terror group are suspected of being involved in plans to carry out large-scale attacks in other countries,” Fuzi said
The other five Egyptians are accused of providing shelter, transport and employment for the two linked to Ansar al-Sharia
“As the presence of these foreigners constitute a security risk, all suspects have been deported to their native country and recommendations have been made to blacklist them from entering Malaysia for life,” Fuzi said
He added that two Malaysians were also detained in the counter-terror operation. - FMT

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