Syiah followers claim assault, medical reports to be submitted to police

Three Syiah followers will be submitting their medical reports to support claims that they were assaulted and kicked by police personnel who accompanied Johor Islamic authorities during a raid on a private premise in Kempas on Monday.

Syed Mohd Fadlie Syed Ali, 34, said all three, who were among the Syiah followers arrested during the Sept 9 raid, would be submitting their medical reports to the police today.

This followed their police reports lodged against the authorities for alleged misconduct and abuse of power, including trespassing into a private premise without a warrant.

"We were told that the police are investigating our claims," he told Malaysiakini.

"Aside from us, (the remaining) five out of eight individuals arrested during the raid were also called to record their statements," he added.

Following their arrests, three reports were lodged In Johor alleging abuse of power by Johor State Islamic Affairs Department (JAINJ) and police.

Aside from claims of assault, the complainants further alledged that they were threatnened by police who pointed guns at them during the raid.

"They (the police) are only tasked to keep the peace and not interfere with JAINJ's affairs," the complainants said in their report.

Authorities are continuing the clampdown on Syiah practitioners, with more foreign nationals arrested in raids on private functions held in Johor and Selangor.

Syiah is considered by the religious authorities to be deviant.

At least two dozen officers from JAINJ accompanied by police were believed to be involved in the Sept 9 raid.

The function was to mark Ashura, the anniversary of Husin Ali's death, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and a central figure in Syiah Islam.

The eight arrested included one Yemeni and two Singaporeans who are yet to be released.

Those arrested are reportedly being investigated under Section 9 of the Johor Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment, which deals with those violating the orders of the sultan, mufti and fatwa.

The provision carries a maximum punishment of an RM3,000 fine and a year's jail.

When contacted, Johor police chief Mohd Kamarudin Md Din confirmed that investigations are ongoing.

"Actions will be taken if any of our personnel were found to have acted aggressively during the raid by JAINJ," he said.

Mohd Kamarudin, however, warned that police would also not hesitate to take actions against the complainants if their allegations were found to be false.

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