The groups also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of two protesters who were arrested.
The protest was held in response to Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) and the detention of hundreds of activists, including 23 Malaysians.
“As a spontaneous assembly responding to unfolding events, the protest was entitled to adaptive facilitation – not punitive policing,” said the 13 groups in a joint statement.
“Police had a positive obligation to facilitate the assembly, but instead, their conduct was marked by unlawful and disproportionate force and clear breaches of due-process guarantees.”
The signatories of the statement include youth group Mandiri, Gegar, Suara Rakyat Malaysia, Amnesty International Malaysia, Malaysian Protest 4 Palestine, and Students Against Genocide Malaysia.
Earlier, Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus said that the two protesters, aged 23 and 32, were arrested for obstructing policemen in the discharge of their duties.
He said that the situation escalated after some participants started blocking traffic flow on Jalan Tun Razak. This led to a scuffle with a policeman, who was elbowed in the face and suffered minor injuries.
However, the civil society groups said the reason given for the arrests was unjustifiable, claiming officers had obstructed the protesters’ constitutional right to assemble peacefully by blocking access and forcing them onto the road.
They also claimed that the police provoked the scuffle, citing a plainclothes Special Branch (SB) officer who allegedly pretended to be pushed by one of the detainees while blocking him from rejoining fellow protesters. The second protester, who was allegedly attempting to de-escalate the situation, was also arrested.
“Both protesters were dragged and restrained by multiple police officers, held by both arms and around the neck, before being handcuffed. Other protesters who were attempting to defuse the situation were also manhandled without warning – shoved, pushed and forcibly restrained – needlessly endangering participants’ physical safety,” the groups said.
The groups urged the home ministry to review police protocols and ensure that all officers adopt a facilitative, rights-based approach to managing assemblies.
“Amidst ongoing amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, the Madani government must ensure that assembly policing practices reflect – not undermine – its stated commitment to reform,” they said.