Federal Court judgment on Anwar Ibrahim a blow to human rights: ICJ

The International Commission of Jurists today expressed deep concern over the ruling of the Federal Court upholding the conviction on sodomy charges of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim by the Court of Appeal under the colonial-era Section 377B of the Penal Code.

Photograph: themalaymailonline.com

The decision today was on the final appeal against the March 2014 decision of the Court of Appeal, which overturned the 2012 High Courts decision to acquit Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy charges.

The ICJ has called on Malaysia to repeal Section 377B, which criminalises consensual same-sex relations.

The Federal Court also upheld the Court of Appeals decision to sentence Anwar to five years imprisonment.

It is clear from the decision of the Federal Court today that the Government of Malaysia has once again inappropriately used Section 377B of the Penal Code against its political opponents, said Justice Elizabeth Evatt, Commissioner of the ICJ who was in Putrajaya to observe the proceedings.

This is deplorable, especially since Section 377B criminalises consensual same-sex relations and thereby violates a range of international law and standards, including on the rights to privacy, non-discrimination and equal protection, she added.

This relic of British law has long since been abandoned in the United Kingdom, but is still in force in Malaysia.

However, in the last few years, it has only been used against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The conviction today amounts to the second sodomy conviction for Anwar Ibrahim within the past 14 years.

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Federal Court judgment on Anwar Ibrahim a blow to human rights: ICJ