Police today confirmed the arrest of an Egyptian university student, Marwan Mohamed Magdi Osman Ahmed, for allegedly protesting in front of his country’s embassy in Kuala Lumpur last Friday.
Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad told FMT that police had opened an investigation paper into the protest under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief.
“We have conducted an investigation and submitted the investigation paper to the DPP (deputy public prosecutor) for further action,” he added.
On Aug 1, Turkish NGO Justice for Human Rights called on the Malaysian government to halt deportation proceedings against Marwan, citing Egypt’s “poor human rights record” and repeated “violations against peaceful demonstrators”.
It said Marwan had “raised protest slogans” on the walls of the Egyptian embassy that called for the opening of the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian border into the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza.
However, it said the embassy had called the act “a threat to national security” and accused Marwan of “grand treason”. It had proceeded to lodge a police report on the matter, which led to his arrest.
“Marwan’s extradition would subject him to torture, arbitrary arrest and a pending trial in a country that international organisations say has an unsafe environment for protesters,” the NGO said in a statement.
Marwan released
Later today, however, Justice for Human Rights director Mahmoud Gaber said Marwan had been released.
“I extend my sincere thanks to all the human rights organisations that stood by, supported and advocated for Marwan. I also thank our fellow human rights colleagues in Malaysia for their invaluable efforts,” he said in a Facebook post.
FMT has reached out to the Egyptian embassy in Malaysia for comment.
