Rights groups condemn arrests of pro-Palestine protesters

A coalition of rights organizations has called on Malaysian authorities to drop investigations into seven pro-Palestine protesters who were detained near the US Embassy earlier today. The joint statement, issued by 19 prominent civil society groups, voiced strong concerns over the treatment of peaceful demonstrators and raised alarm over the state of freedom of expression and assembly in Malaysia.

The seven protesters were detained after gathering at the back entrance of the US Embassy to demonstrate in solidarity with Palestinians affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon. According to the joint statement, the demonstrators had complied with police instructions to move their protest to a different location but were still detained for three hours. Although they were later released, the authorities opened an investigation under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012, which mandates a 10-day notice to police for organizing public assemblies.

“We are deeply concerned by the actions of the authorities in detaining peaceful demonstrators, which exacerbate existing deep-seated concerns about the already worsening state of freedom of expression and assembly under the Madani government,” the statement read.

Call to review the Peaceful Assembly Act

Rights groups, including Amnesty International Malaysia, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), and Sisters in Islam, criticized the arbitrary enforcement of the PAA, arguing that it undermines the core principles of democracy. They stressed that the right to peaceful assembly is protected by Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, as well as by international human rights law.

“We are deeply troubled by the continued use of the PAA to undermine the core principles of democracy and civil liberties,” the statement added. “We urge the government to immediately drop the investigation towards the seven peaceful protesters and to provide full transparency on the enforcement of the PAA.”

The groups also called for a broader cultural shift among Malaysian authorities regarding how peaceful assemblies are handled, emphasizing that any legal restrictions on fundamental rights must meet international standards of legitimacy, necessity, and proportionality.

Impact on freedom of speech

The coalition expressed particular concern over the message sent by the arrests, highlighting that the protest was focused on issues of international concern—the ongoing humanitarian crises in Gaza and Lebanon. The detention of individuals advocating for Palestinian rights, they argued, signals a worrying trend toward suppressing dissent.

“The arrest of these demonstrators for voicing their stance on an issue of international concern sends a chilling message about the state of free speech and the right to protest in Malaysia,” the statement continued. “Allowing people to voice their concerns publicly is integral to encouraging critical discourse in matters of public interest, which is essential to a functioning democracy.”

The organizations concluded by urging the public to stand in solidarity with those fighting for justice and the right to protest, reaffirming that peaceful protest is not a crime but a cornerstone of civic participation that must be protected.