The women who came from several NGOs said they hoped the government would immediately release Maria.
The women handed over a memorandum to representatives from parliament calling for the immediate release of the activist, the return of all files and computers confiscated during the raid on Bersih’s office last Friday and the abolishment of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012.
Lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan said the reason for the peaceful protest was to pressure the authorities to immediately release Maria, who has devoted herself to fighting for women’s rights.
“The government fears us because we are truthful in our cause.
“We have pledged a campaign to free Maria Chin and we will continue to fight for it.
“There is a Maria Chin in all of us. We will never accept what was done to her,” the former Bar Council president told reporters at Padang Merbok today.
Women’s activist Ivy Josiah said the rally’s main aim was to call for Maria’s unconditional release from Sosma.
Maria’s sister Cynthia Chin, said her family was devastated and had pleaded repeatedly with the authorities to let them visit her.
“My sister is a compassionate person and we are worried for her.
“We want to know why she was arrested and we blame Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar,” she said.
“Is it right to be arrested when you fight for democracy, justice, clean and fair elections?
“We are very angry and my father is totally devastated with her arrest. He is 87-years-old and her (Maria’s) kids are finding it difficult to cope with this situation,” she said.
A retiree from Subang Jaya who wanted only to be known as Tan said it was a cowardly act to put Maria in jail.
The 66-year-old part-time real estate agent said the reason she came out to protest was for the sake of her own children and the potentially bleak future they had in front of them.
“Maria is not a terrorist and they have no right to lock her up.
“The reason I’m here is because I fear for the future of my children.
“I advised them if they can, to migrate to another country because we don’t see a better future here,” she said.
A kindergarten teacher who wanted to be known as Cheng said she took a day off to fight for Maria, whom she said had been unfairly arrested.
The 29-year-old from Ampang hoped Maria would be freed immediately.
“Maria has children and so do I. It’s sad to see the authorities keeping her children away from her,” Cheng said.
Maria was arrested Friday, the eve of the Bersih 5 rally in Kuala Lumpur.