Shahrul Izani Suparman was handed down the death sentence in 2009, six years after he was arrested when a stash of cannabis was discovered hidden in a motorcycle he had borrowed.
For 13 years, Shahrul Izani had maintained he did not know the drugs were stashed in the basket of the motorcycle and is currently awaiting his clemency application to be heard before the state Pardons Board.
AI Malaysia Executive Director Shamini Darshni, in a statement, explained the aim of the campaign was to give the young man hope, which was currently in “short supply.”
“For a man who is forced to listen to a fellow death row inmate struggle to breathe his last when hanging from the rope, we hope that this action would bring him some small comfort.”
She hoped that by celebrating Shahrul Izani’s birthday, by sending him greeting cards, the initiative would become a platform that would bring people together as a sign of solidarity and send a strong signal to the authorities that the death penalty had no place in today’s society.
Shamini is also hoping the birthday greetings would give encouragement to Shahrul Izani and his family and show them that he was not forgotten and there were still those who would continue to stand with him.
“On another level, AI Malaysia also hopes that this campaign will drive home the point that the death penalty solves no crime, nor will it deter drugs from entering the market or prevent other crimes from happening.”
Those wanting to participate in the campaign may purchase a birthday card and write a message for Shahrul Izani.
Completed birthday cards should be posted to AI Malaysia at D-2-33A, 8 Avenue, Jalan Sungai Jernih 8/1, Section 8, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, which will act as a collection centre.
E-cards with a message to Shahrul Izani should be sent to [email protected].
Additionally, AI Malaysia is also encouraging people to download a photo tag of a specialised birthday greeting to Shahrul Izani from aimalaysia.org.
Once this photo tag is downloaded, the public will be encouraged to take a selfie or a wefie with the photo tag and post it on any or all of the social media platforms with the hashtag #ShahrulIzani.
There is also an online petition that Malaysians can sign to urge the Selangor Clemency Board to commute Shahrul Izani’s death sentence to life imprisonment as he could be executed at any time.