The Federal Court’s finding yesterday that it is constitutional to criminalise the screening of a film without the Film Censorship Board’s consent is inconsistent with Malaysia’s commitment to human rights, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said.

Malaysia had in its last Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Rights Council in 2013 committed to respecting human rights, ICJ regional director for Asia and Pacific Sam Zarifi said.

As such, Zarifi called on the prosecution to drop all charges against Pusat Komas activist Lena Hendry, who was charged for screening the film ‘No Fire Zone: the Killing Fields of Sri Lanka’ without the Film Censorship Board’s prior consent.

Lena yesterday failed in her attempt to challenge the constitutionality of Section 6(1)(b) of the Film Censorship Act 2002, and has to face trial.

She faces up to three years in jail or a fine of RM30,000 or both.

“Lena Hendry is clearly a human rights defender and Malaysia has the special duty, not only to respect her right to freedom of expression but to protect her exercise of this right through the exposure of human rights violations in Sri Lanka,” Zarifi said.