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Daughter of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim arrested for sedition
Agence France Presse - March 16, 2015
Nurul Izzah, 34, a member of Parliament and popular public figure, confirmed her arrest by phone while in custody.
Nurul became the latest nabbed in a sedition crackdown by Malaysia's government that has seen dozens investigated, charged or convicted over the past year, including several top opposition politicians.
"I am extremely angry, and we all should be, because as Parliament members we should be free to criticise the government of the day without reprisal," said Nurul, who also has led recent street rallies against Anwar's conviction.
Anwar was convicted on February 10 of sodomising a former male aide in 2008 and sentenced to five years in jail.
Anwar, who denies the charge, calls it a "political conspiracy" by the coalition in power since 1957, designed to thwart steady opposition gains in recent elections.
Nurul last week read out in Parliament portions of a statement by Anwar, now in prison, in which he questioned the independence of Malaysia's judiciary.
A police official said Nurul was likely to be held at least overnight. Authorities have warned that criticising Anwar's jailing could bring sedition charges, and a handful of critics have already been investigated or charged.
Government opponents say the sodomy case is part of a long-running campaign to remove Anwar, who was ousted from the ruling party in a late-1990s' power struggle. He later helped inspire the fractious opposition into a formidable force.
His conviction has been criticised by international human rights groups, Australia and the United States, which say it raised questions over the rule of law.
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