Activist Lena Hendry's conviction over a film screening has far-reaching implications, including to prevent the use of film as an educational tool in institutes of higher learning, the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) was told today.

Lena was on Feb 21 convicted of breaching the Film Censorship Act by screening “No Fire Zone, the Killing Fields of Sri Lanka” in July 2013 without approval from the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia.

“This sets a very negative precedent because it instills a culture of fear and self censorship, even academicians will become fearful in screening films for education purposes,” Lena said.