Amnesty International (AI) today adopted student activist Ali Abdul Jalil as a 'prisoner of conscience' and launches a global call for his release.

In an urgent action released today, the international human rights NGO urged its letter writers to call on the Malaysian authorities to release the student activist.

“Amnesty considers Ali a prisoner of conscience, as he was charged and detained solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression,” AI said.

The NGO urged the government to drop all charges against Ali ( left ), investigate allegations that he was tortured in police custody and bring the perpetrators to justice.

It asked for letters to be written and sent to Prime Minister Najib Razak and attorney general Abdul Gani Patail before Nov 6.

“Please write immediately urging them (authorities) to ensure that Ali is not tortured, or otherwise ill-treated, and that he has regular access to his family and lawyers of his choosing,” the statement read.

Mutiple charges, bails and arrests

Ali joined the ranks of a small group of Malaysians who have been adopted prisoners of conscience by Amnesty.

They include opposition politicians Anwar Ibrahim and the late Karpal Singh, Hindraf's P Uthayakumar, and prominent human rights activist the late Irene Fernandez ( extreme right ).

He was arrested on Sept 8 and charged at the Selayang Sessions court under section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act for allegedly criticising the monarchy.

After posting the RM5,000 bail, he was immediately re-arrested and charged for two more counts of sedition at the Shah Alam Sessions Court and held at the Sungai Buloh prison for 15 days.

“The activist was physically and verbally ill-treated by a prison officer who punched him in the stomach, slapped his face, and hit his leg with a baton and rubber pipe,” said the statement.

After being released on bail on Sept 23, Ali was again re-arrested and this time sent to Johor Baru Selatan police station where he currently remains in detention.

The sedition charge against Ali is not the first for the Abdul Jalil family.

Ahmad, Ali's twin brother, was remanded for six days in Nov 2012.  He claimed that he was denied a lawyer, blindfolded and placed in a cell block meant for those under capital punishment.

Based on Ahmad's experience, the family fears a similar fate will befall Ali while he is in Johor Baru prison.

The NGO at the same time also urges Putrajaya to repeal the Sedition Act and drop all charges against those currently charged or convicted for “sedition”, solely for exercising their freedom of expression.

“The Sedition Act does not comply with the international human rights law and standards, and it violates the right to freedom of expression which is enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and also guaranteed in Article 10 of the Malaysian Constitution,” AI said.