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“I was flung hard on the cement floor and they pressed their knees on the back of my neck until I felt immense pain, and until my left cheek was pressed against the dirty cement floor.”

KUALA LUMPUR: These are the words of Mat Sah bin Mohd Satray who has been held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since 2002 on the pretext of terrorism.

In a press conference launching the campaign pack published by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) [www.ihrc.org] on 19 September 2007, the 83-group coalition Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) called on the Government to release all ISA detainees and repeal the draconian Act.

The pack documents interviews and research outlining the injustice suffered by Mat Sah, and encourages the public to write to the Prime Minister calling for Mat Sah’s detention to end. Mat Sah is currently held in Kamunting Detention Centre, and has been accused of being part of the Jemaah Islamiyyah (JI) network seeking to overthrow the Government by force. No evidence has been produced to substantiate the allegations, and Mat Sah’s legal appeals have been rejected in the courts. He continues to be held without charge and denies the allegations.

Mat Sah’s wife gave a moving account of the difficulties faced by the family while Mat Sah has been incarcerated. She questioned the arbitrariness of detention under the ISA when it is not clear why and how some detainees are released as others continue to languish in prison.

Edmund Bon, counsel for Mat Sah and Chair of the Bar’s Human Rights Committee (HRC) said that it is hypocritical of the Government to call for the closure of Guantanamo Bay and its detainees be given a fair trial when the ISA continues to be used.

“We are winning the moral and intellectual battle in the fight against the ISA. The Government says the same things we do…Human rights cuts across all religions and race, and we are encouraged that IHRC recognises the violation of international human rights standards from the Islamic standpoint.”, he said.

Zaid Kamaruddin, President of Pertubuhan Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) reiterated that whether Malaysia was a secular or Islamic state, detention without trial is unfair and wrong.

IHRC is a human rights body based in the United Kingdom working with different organisations from Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds to campaign for justice for all regardless of their racial, confessional or political backgrounds. They are an independent, not-for-profit, campaign and advocacy group which derives inspiration from Qur’anic injunctions commanding Muslims to rise up in defence of the oppressed.

GMI was represented by its Chair, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh who led the launch and I represented the HRC. Former detainees Saari Sungib and Abdul Ghani Haroon were also present.

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