The Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) welcomed a Malaysian Federal Court decision striking down a law that criminalized organizing peaceful protests without providing advance notice to the police.
The decision follows an amicus brief submitted by CFJ’s TrialWatch initiative and Malaysian human rights organization Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), which argued that Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act imposed disproportionate and unnecessary restrictions on the rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
The law had created a chilling effect on peaceful protest in Malaysia by criminalizing those who failed to comply with the mandated five-day notice period.
“In this assessment, we are convinced in particular by the argument advanced by counsel for the amici curiae, The Clooney Foundation For Justice and Suaram,” Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun wrote in the Federal Court’s published judgement.
ABOUT THE CLOONEY FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE’S TRIALWATCH INITIATIVE
TrialWatch provides free legal aid to journalists who are unfairly imprisoned to secure their release and uphold freedom of speech.
ABOUT THE CLOONEY FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE (CFJ)
The Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ) wages justice by providing free legal aid in defense of free speech and women’s rights in over 40 countries. Its work has led to dozens of journalists being set free and thousands of women receiving free legal support to defend their rights.