Reform movement Aliran criticised the Federal Court's failure to back up their ruling in favour of the five reformasi leaders who were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) by releasing them.

"It is not without merit that the latest Aliran Monthly carries a back-page article entitled, 'Is there hope in our judiciary?'," said the president, P Ramakrishnan, in a statement.

On Sept 6, the Federal Court found that five reformasi leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor, Saari Sungib, Hishamuddin Rais and Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin had been detained unlawfully for the first 60 days under the ISA.

However, the court did not release them from a further two-year detention ordered by Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.