Malaysian special forces likely behind disappearances of Shiite Muslim activist and Christian pastor, says human rights commission
- Amri Che Mat, who worked with the poor, disappeared in November 2016 in the northern state of Perlis
- Raymond Koh, who ran a charity that helped the underprivileged, including Muslims, was kidnapped by masked men in February 2017 in Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia’s government was urged on Thursday to reinvestigate the disappearances of a Christian pastor and a Muslim activist after a public inquiry concluded the duo were abducted by the police special branch over matters against Islam.
Amri Che Mat, who ran a charity group, disappeared after he left his home on the night of November 24, 2016. The Rev. Raymond Koh disappeared in broad daylight in central Selangor state on February 13, 2017, while being investigated for proselytisation of Muslims.
The National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday concluded after a two-year public inquiry that direct and circumstantial evidence showed the men were victims of “enforced disappearance by state agents” involving the special branch. It said the men had been targeted by religious authorities and police and abducted in similar fashion: their cars were cornered by several four-wheel drive vehicles before they were swiftly seized by men in black.
It said Amri was under the watch of Perlis religious authorities for allegedly spreading Shiite teachings. The government recognises only the Sunni branch of Islam and prohibits all others including Shiites, the world’s second largest Islamic group.
The findings have stunned Malaysians and raised a chorus of calls from rights groups, lawmakers and a Christian body for a new investigation to find the truth and punish the perpetrators.
“After the (commission’s) damning conclusion, the government can no longer bury its head in the sand. An independent and impartial investigation into the special branch’s involvement … must be immediately undertaken in order to determine (Amri and Koh’s) fate or whereabouts,” said Sevan Doraisamy, executive director of rights group SUARAM.
