In calling for charges against Heidy Quah to be dropped, these groups said information shared on the refugee activist’s Facebook was validated by Suhakam’s annual report in 2018.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia had three years ago described conditions in immigration detention centres as “cramped, unsanitary, poorly maintained, and lacking in basic facilities such as clean water and food”.

Suhakam, they also said, has continued to document extremely poor conditions in immigration detention centres.

Instead of addressing these concerns through meaningful reforms, they said the government has chosen to silence those who raise such matters.

“A credible and accountable action by the government would have been to initiate an independent investigation on potential mismanagement, ill-treatment or abuse of power within and in relation to immigration detention centres,” they said.

The joint statement was issued by the All Women’s Action Society (Awam), Amnesty International Malaysia, Tenaganita as well as 67 individuals.

Earlier today, Quah pleaded not guilty in the sessions court over her Facebook post alleging the mistreatment of refugees at an immigration detention centre.

She was slapped with one charge under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act, with the prosecution contending that she uploaded the post on June 5, 2020 with the intention to insult others.

Last year, police questioned Quah over her post. She surrendered her mobile phone to the authorities during the investigation.

The statement also said that charging Quah a year after she had made the posting raised questions about the government’s intention and motivation against an activist whose organisation has been actively providing aid to marginalised communities.

“The current prosecution against Quah is unacceptable. Telling the truth should not be a crime. Letting harm happen, especially to the vulnerable, is the real violence.”