Abe Rameshwary, 42, said her husband and four cousins were detained by the police on June 23, but till now, they do not know why.

She said they had gone to the prison to find out what charges were being laid against their detained family members.

“We are here to find out if their case will be postponed or if they will be given a trial date, and on what charges,” Abe said.

Tan Eng Huat said his brother had been detained since June 23, but he had not received any explanation from the police or the home ministry.

He said he and his family had only found out that his brother had been detained by the police through social media, 28 days later.

“The police did not inform us that he had been brought to court. Until now, we have no answers,” he said.

Malar, 36, whose husband was also arrested, urged the government to abolish Sosma, describing it as an unfair law. While the Act was enacted to curb terrorism, she maintained her husband was not a terrorist.

“I appeal to the government, please release all our family members. If they did something wrong, charge them under the Penal Code,” she said.

Shalvin Kanvinchelvan, the lawyer for one of the detainees, said his client had been given trial dates in July, August and September 2024.

He said his client will be charged under Section 130V of the Penal Code for being a member of an organised crime group.