BY: HAFIZAN TAIB
KUALA LUMPUR, MAR 30: The government is urged to release a local university student, Siti Noor Aishah Atam, who was detained on allegation of conspiracy relating to terrorism activities, due to the arrest being made without evidence.
AMANAH Women Head, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said, the Home Ministry’s action is cruel and the government should stop intimidating the people. The government should also re-evaluate and improve its modus operandi for combating terrorism to prevent mistreating the innocent.
“I urge Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s led government to release Siti Noor Aishah immediately and clear her name from the brutality of the Security Offences Act (Special Measures) 2012 (SOSMA) and the Crime Prevention Act 1956 (POCA).
“Her detention now and prior to this are denials of her right as a student to read any reference materials for her studies,” she said in a media session at the Parliament lobby today.
It was reported that Siti Noor Aishah is now in Kajang Prison, detained under SOSMA while her previous arrests were made under two acts which were SOSMA and POCA.
She said, it was made to understand that Siti Aishah was detained for having 12 books relating to violence in her possession and for importing the flag of a terrorist group, the latter has yet to be proven.
She said, for one of the charges, Judicial Commissioner, Datuk Mohamad Shariff Abu Samah had acquitted her last September 29 due to insufficient evidence provided by the Home Ministry, under Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, that those books are banned.
“Using provisions under SOSMA and POCA is actually blatant tyranny, defying the rights of citizens in this country.
“The abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA) prior to this had also not shown the government’s determination to abide to the constitution and citizens’ rights, in fact it has brought the country to another form of brutal administration,” she said.
Kapar Member of Parliament, G Manivanan said, KEADILAN demands that government release Siti Noor Aishah and is of the view that SOSMA and POCA should not be used in this case.
“I was made to understand that the books that she has are not yet banned as they can still be obtained from public libraries and sold in the market.
“In fact, her father told me that the judge in one of the cases mentioned that even his child read those books and they are not related to violence and has no terrorism element, as such she was acquitted,” he said.
No terrorism element, government must release Siti Noor Aishah
