Malaysia: Move to outlaw human rights groups is an assault on freedom | Amnesty International

Malaysia: Move to outlaw human rights groups is an assault on freedom | Amnesty International:

 Today’s attempt by Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs to ban the country’s leading coalition of human rights NGOs is a disturbing assault on the rights to freedom of expression and association, Amnesty International said.

The Ministry alleged that the majority of the 54 groups that make up the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (COMANGO) are “un-Islamic”, lack official registration, and are therefore prohibited.

“Outlawing COMANGO is a deeply disturbing action aimed at silencing important critical voices that have advocated on the world stage for Malaysia to uphold international human rights law and standards,” said Hazel Galang-Folli, Malaysia researcher at Amnesty International.

Comango had criticized Malaysia's human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council.

© Eric Bridiers/U.S. Mission