Cover image via themalaysianinsider.com17 March: News about the arrest of Nurul Izzah Anwar made international headlines yesterday with media like The Wall Street Journal saying that "Malaysian politics are moving down a dark path"
The Permatang Pauh MP and PKR vice-president had voluntarily gone to the Dang Wangi police station to give her statement on the #KitaLawan rally when was arrested under the Sedition Act
The arrest was over a speech she made in Parliament last week criticising the judiciary for upholding Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy conviction, a move she described as "selling their soul to the devil"
Police detained her overnight at the Jinjang lockup to assist in the investigation. However, her lawyer R Sivarasa said there was no reason for her arrest.
Lawyers also say the arrest was unconstitutional as the Federal Constitution gives Member of Parliaments immunity for anything that is said in the Dewan Rakyat
Outside the Jinjang police lockup, hundreds of Malaysians gathered in solidarity with Nurul Izzah and other activists who have been criminalised for speaking out against injustice
The International Commission of Jurists (IC) agrees, releasing a statement saying that the Sedition Act is grossly overboard and inconsistent with the basic rule of law
Each sedition arrest is another step towards destructing the rights-respecting democracy in Malaysia, says Human Rights Watch
DAP asks why was the police able to swiftly take Nurul Izzah into custody when there was barely any action on Ismail Sabri for calling a boycott against Chinese traders
As the controversy surrounding her arrest grows, police released Nurul Izzah on bail. They had apparently changed their mind from the intended four-day remand.
Nurul Izzah is free to go home, but the sedition investigation is not over. She is required to report at the police station on 16 April 2014 again.
When asked about her arrest, Nurul Izzah says this move would affect the rights of other Members of Parliament and signifies that the country's democracy has been taken hostage by the authorities
Nurul Izzah shouted 'Reformasi' after being released for the police station today.
Image via Nurul Izzah Anwar
Back at home, Dr Wan Azizah is distraught as first her husband, and now her daughter have been hauled to jail. Despite her family being forced apart, she vows to never surrender.
On Twitter, Dr Wan Azizah Ismail wrote "After papa was punished..now izzah's turn..may Allah protect our family.."
"After you drag my husband to jail, now you criminalise my daughter…they sleep in dirty jails…"
