[MEDIA RESPONSE]
Reacting quotes by Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu, Executive Director, Amnesty International Malaysia, on the the arrest of prominent Bangladesh human rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan:
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We condemn the arrest of prominent Bangladesh human rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan who is the latest target of a growing trend to impose travel bans on rights activists entering Malaysia and up till now has been denied access to his lawyer.
This is not the first time that the government has barred peaceful activists. Previously, Hong Kong political activist Joshua Wong, Indonesian human rights defender Mugiyanto Sipin and most recently, Singaporean political activist Han Hui Hui were prevented from visiting the country.
We call for the immediate release of Adilur, and an end to the use of travel bans against human rights defenders which further stigmatises their work, and limits their ties with the global human rights movement.
Background:
At about 4.00 am, 20 July 2017, prominent Bangladesh human rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan was detained by the Malaysian Immigration at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Reasons for his detention is not clear as of 10.00 am.
For more information, please contact Amnesty International Malaysia at +603 7955 2680.