Latest news with #freedomofmovement
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Fine, see you in court': Fahmi Reza calls out authorities over travel ban confusion, says no one taking responsibility; vows legal action
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza has criticised the government over his recent overseas travel ban, saying no authorities have taken responsibility for the incident. In a strongly worded statement posted on Facebook, Fahmi said despite government claims that there was 'no official travel restriction' against him, he was still barred from leaving the country due to what authorities described as a 'confusion during an immigration check'. 'I don't see any government body owning up to the mistake that resulted in the restriction of my freedom of movement,' he said. 'You keep saying there is 'no official ban'. But in reality, I was still blocked and denied my right to travel,' he added. Fahmi questioned the government's accountability, saying he had lost time and money because of the incident, yet no agency had taken the blame. He also pointed out the double standards in how regular citizens are swiftly prosecuted for offences, whereas authorities often escape responsibility. 'This time, it's the people's turn to drag those in power to court,' Fahmi said. He insisted that no government or authority is above the law and that citizens should not be afraid to challenge injustice. 'You always tell me to 'use the right channel', don't you? Fine, see you in court,' he said. The travel issue came to light after Fahmi was reportedly prevented from boarding an international flight yesterday. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had earlier denied the existence of a blacklist order against Fahmi, saying there was no directive from the government to restrict his movement. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain similarly stated that police did not issue any instruction to bar Fahmi from leaving the country and attributed the matter to possible confusion at the immigration checkpoint.
Malay Mail
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Fine, see you in court': Fahmi Reza calls out authorities over travel ban confusion, says no one taking responsibility; vows legal action
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza has criticised the government over his recent overseas travel ban, saying no authorities have taken responsibility for the incident. In a strongly worded statement posted on Facebook, Fahmi said despite government claims that there was 'no official travel restriction' against him, he was still barred from leaving the country due to what authorities described as a 'confusion during an immigration check'. 'I don't see any government body owning up to the mistake that resulted in the restriction of my freedom of movement,' he said. 'You keep saying there is 'no official ban'. But in reality, I was still blocked and denied my right to travel,' he added. Fahmi questioned the government's accountability, saying he had lost time and money because of the incident, yet no agency had taken the blame. He also pointed out the double standards in how regular citizens are swiftly prosecuted for offences, whereas authorities often escape responsibility. 'This time, it's the people's turn to drag those in power to court,' Fahmi said. He insisted that no government or authority is above the law and that citizens should not be afraid to challenge injustice. 'You always tell me to 'use the right channel', don't you? Fine, see you in court,' he said. The travel issue came to light after Fahmi was reportedly prevented from boarding an international flight yesterday. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had earlier denied the existence of a blacklist order against Fahmi, saying there was no directive from the government to restrict his movement. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain similarly stated that police did not issue any instruction to bar Fahmi from leaving the country and attributed the matter to possible confusion at the immigration checkpoint.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
IGP: No official travel restriction on Fahmi Reza despite immigration confusion; name only on monitoring list
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Police today denied issuing a travel ban against activist Mohd Fahmi Reza Mohd Zarin, better known as Fahmi Reza, following claims he was prevented from leaving the country. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Fahmi's name had only been placed on a movement monitoring list as part of an ongoing investigation. 'There is no official travel restriction imposed on Fahmi Reza at this time,' he said in a statement. He explained that the monitoring list is used for internal reference and does not equate to an actual travel ban. 'There was confusion during an immigration check at an exit point on June 7, 2025, which resulted in an incorrect instruction being issued,' he added. Police are reviewing the incident and will take appropriate steps to improve existing procedures. Razarudin said the Royal Malaysia Police remain committed to upholding Malaysians' right to freedom of movement. He said Fahmi is free to travel in and out of the country as usual, subject to any relevant regulations set by the Immigration Department or applicable laws.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Explain Fahmi Reza's travel ban, activist urges govt, cops
Wong Kueng Hui, director of the rights group Mandiri, called for the blacklist to be lifted immediately. PETALING JAYA : The government and the police were urged today to explain the travel ban imposed on satirical graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza, who was prevented from taking a flight to Singapore this morning. Citizenship rights activist Wong Kueng Hui said Fahmi was barred from leaving the country on the orders of Bukit Aman (federal police headquarters) without any clear justification given. Fahmi was not a criminal but merely an artist who has been outspoken in criticising the government through his satirical artworks, said Wong, a Muda member who is coordinator of the Mandiri human rights organisation. He said in a statement: 'Mandiri stands in complete solidarity with Fahmi and calls for the blacklist to be lifted immediately and for the government to guarantee the people's right to freedom of movement, which is provided for under the law.' Wong, a Sabahan, was formerly declared stateless but finally received his MyKad in 2023 after 16 years of applying for Malaysian citizenship. He is active in championing the rights of stateless people. Earlier today, Fahmi said he was stopped by immigration officers before boarding a flight to Singapore, and informed that he was blacklisted. He said an immigration officer told him that the police had barred him from leaving the country. DAP Youth chief Woo Kah Leong also criticised the travel ban, saying it was uncalled for and would tarnish the reputation of the Madani government. Fahmi was denied entry into Sabah on May 29. He was arrested by Sabah police earlier this year in an investigation into one of his satirical works, depicting Sabah governor Musa Aman, which was later deemed to be seditious.
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Uzbek journalist and activist unable to travel to Ireland for award after alleged burning of passport
A journalist and human rights activist from Uzbekistan claims she was unable to travel to Dublin last week to receive a humanitarian award because her passport was intercepted in the post and burned, rendering it unusable. The organisation that was set to present her with the award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, Front Line Defenders (FLD), described the interception as an 'act of intimidation and a violation of her right to freedom of movement'. Founded in 2001, FLD is a Dublin-based organisation that provides services and support to human rights advocates under threat around the globe. It was awarded the UN's Human Rights Prize in 2018. Sharifa Madrakhimova said she is 'absolutely sure it is because of her activity' covering farmers' and labourers' rights in Uzbekistan. READ MORE Sharifa Madrakhimova and her burned passport Hours after FLD publicised the incident online, Ms Madrakhimova received her new passport in the post, albeit without her visa for the Schengen area. Speaking to The Irish Times via an interpreter, she said the DHL postal service told her it has never had such an issue before. Freedom of speech has improved in Uzbekistan since the death of a former president in 2016, but Ms Madrakhimova 'has still faced a range of obstacles to her journalistic and public activities [such as] smear campaigns and intimidation tactics', FLD said. This is not the first intimidation tactic Ms Madrakhimova has suffered. She detailed an atmosphere of pro-government supporters 'deliberately targeting activists' online, particularly on the messaging service Telegram, to curtail reporting on issues of social and gender inequality. In April 2024, she and fellow Uzbek journalist Umida Niyzova were accosted by a pro-government blogger outside her home in Kokand. The incident was filmed and uploaded online in what FLD labelled a 'defamatory video'. [ Irish support for human rights and international law will never be compromised, says Tánaiste Opens in new window ] Last February she was the subject of a police investigation that claimed she received bribes from local farmers to report their complaints after being told by the local government to kill profitable strawberry crops to make room to plant cotton. The Uzbek cotton industry was shunned by international markets throughout the 2010s for forced and child labour in farming practices. Reforms have been implemented in recent years, but farmers are still often made to sell cotton to the government for artificially low prices. Ms Madrakhimova said the police investigation was unfounded and eventually dropped after she discovered it was sparked by a complaint from the government press service. She denies accusations of receiving bribes, with her interpreter saying 'Sharifa doesn't even let people pay for lunch' to avoid this perception. She also received a legal threat from the top official of her home district after reporting on local water issues in agricultural production, something for which a fellow Uzbek journalist received a six-year sentence. The Irish Times received no reply from the Uzbek embassy in London, which has remit for Ireland, when asked to comment. Ms Madrakhimova said she does not feel in danger at home now, but the threat to journalists looms large.
