Stop harassing women activists

LETTER | We are deeply concerned by police investigations against Ambiga Sreenevasan and Marina Mahathir, just a day after investigations began on activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri over a peaceful protest at Dataran Merdeka.

This intimidation and harassment of women activists is a dangerous trend - and it must stop.

All of us have the right to express our views and to gather peacefully, as guaranteed by the Constitution. And we condemn any attempt to trample on these rights in the government’s attempt to crack down on dissent.

We urge the police to cease investigations against Fadiah, Ambiga and Marina as well as any others who are expressing their views.

We also demand that the government respects and protects our constitutional rights to freedom of expressions and freedom of associations and assembly, more so during this critical time in our country.

The above is issued by the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) and endorsed by the following:

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)

Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)

Foreign Spouses Support Group (FSSG)

Justice for Sisters

KRYSS Network

Perak Women for Women Society (PWW)

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)

Sabah Women's Action Resource Group (Sawo)

Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS)

Sisters in Islam (SIS)

Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)

JAG is a coalition of 14 women’s rights organisations in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.