Suhakam chairman Razali Ismail said the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers protects legal professionals who play a vital role in upholding human rights.
“The state must abide by said principles and ensure that lawyers can perform their duties and professional functions without any form of harassment, intimidation, hindrance or improper interference.
“Accordingly, Suhakam advises that the charge against Siti Kasim be dropped,” he said in a statement released today.
Razali added that the agency was “dismayed” that Siti Kasim was detained and later charged despite her identifying herself as a lawyer representing her clients during a raid at a private event.
“Legal professionals play a vital role in upholding human rights, ensuring due process and the right to a fair trial, and to ensuring respect for the rule of law.
“Suhakam cautions that where lawyers are unable to defend their clients for fear of arrest, criminal charges or intimidation, they cannot properly defend people facing violations of their human rights.”
On June 23, Siti Kasim claimed trial to a charge of preventing Islamic religious enforcement officer Siti Nor Jihan Saleh @ Md Ghazali from discharging her duties on April 3, 2016, at the Renaissance Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
Siti Kasim was charged under Section 186 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of not more than two years or a maximum fine of RM10,000 or both, upon conviction.
The charge was brought against her after a video of her shouting at Jawi officers, asking if they had a warrant to raid the closed-door event, went viral on social media last year.