A women's organisation has asked the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to probe the denial of a police permit to hold an anti-rape rally late July following the spate of violence against women in recent months.

Yesterday, the All Women's Action Society (Awam) sent a three-page letter to Suhakam complaining about the police's curtailment of its freedom of expression and assembly in organising the 'Citizens against Rape: Make Public Spaces Safe - Towards a Violence-free Society' rally.

The rally was finally held at a private college on Aug 3 after two postponements, and was attended by 500 people including Women and Family Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and several ruling and opposition politicians.