A religious preacher who was detained last month under the controversial Internal Security Act for his alleged links to the Malaysian Mujahidin Group, or KMM, was released two days ago.

Ahmad Jihbadz Mokhlis Mokhtar Ghazalis release was confirmed by his lawyer R Sivarasa when contacted today.

The 42-year-old preacher had been detained without trial for 42 days under the security law.

Sivarasa and co-counsel Jonson Chong were scheduled to represent Jihbadz in a habeas corpus application before Ipoh High Court judge Abdul Said Embong on Wednesday.

However, government lawyers had requested for a postponement. Habeas corpus is a legal writ which challenges detention without trial.

The police under Section 73 of the ISA can hold an individual up to 60 days and the home affairs minister may detain the person for a further two years at the Kamunting detention centre in Perak.

Deviant faith

On Feb 21, Jihbadz was arrested under the ISA for allegedly being a Shia, a sect which is considered to be deviant in predominantly Sunni Malaysia. He was apprehended shortly after giving a lecture in a factory in Taiping, Perak

However, a New Straits Times report the next day quoted police chief Norian Mai as saying that Jihbadz was detained for alleged links to the shadowy KMM group, which was accused of attempting to topple the government and set up an Islamic state by force.

Jihbadzs wife, Suzaina Mohamad, told malaysiakini when contacted at their home in Gunung Semanggol Perak that she was happy her husband had been released.

He came home at around 10pm last night and the police officers told me that he had been released unconditionally.

He lost about one kg but other than that, he showed no signs of abuse, she said.

Asked if malaysiakini could speak to Jihbadz, she said that any further queries should be forwarded to his lawyers.

International terrorist group

It is unclear why Jihbadz was detained under the ISA. However, in his affidavit filed for his defence, several family members and friends were questioned regarding their links with opposition party PAS.

They were also interrogated on Jihbadz activities in relation to the Shia faith.

The Human Rights Commission, or Suhakam, last year reported that two individuals were detained under ISA in the Kamunting detention camp for their Shia beliefs.

According to Suhakam, the government however categorised them as members of an international terrorist group.

Among those arrested under the ISA for their alleged links to KMM was PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mats son, Nik Adli, as well as a number of PAS activists.