Watchdog: Rayhan's treatment will have chilling effect
The persecution of Bangladeshi national Md Rayhan Kabir will lead to migrant workers fearing repercussion should they speak out against abuses, said Human Rights Watch.
"(This sends) a chilling message to all migrant workers that speaking out about rights abuses risks arbitrary arrest, deportation and blacklisting," said its deputy Asia director Phil Robertson (above)....
The persecution of Bangladeshi national Md Rayhan Kabir will lead to migrant workers fearing repercussion should they speak out against abuses, said Human Rights Watch.
"(This sends) a chilling message to all migrant workers that speaking out about rights abuses risks arbitrary arrest, deportation and blacklisting," said its deputy Asia director Phil Robertson (above).
"The arrest of a source in a documentary adds to the devastating assault on free speech and media freedom in Malaysia."
Rayhan was a key figure in Al Jazeera's documentary titled "Locked up in Malaysia's Lockdown" narrating the perils of undocumented migrants in the country.
This documentary had caused some outcry as it implied that racism was a factor in the arrest of undocumented migrants when Malaysia cordoned off several neighbourhoods during the height of the country's Covid-19 outbreak.
Following this, authorities launched an investigation on the filmmakers and arrested Rayhan (below), promising to deport him and never allowing him to return.
Human Rights Watch said Rayhan's treatment has raised concerns about due process because the revocation of his work permit and execution of the deportation process was conducted without him being given a chance to defend himself.
"The government’s public attacks on Rayhan, at a time of rising xenophobia in Malaysia, serve to fan the flames of intolerance," it said.
Human rights, including the rights to express oneself and due process, should be accorded to everyone, including non-citizens, the group added.
"Speaking to the media about the treatment of migrant workers is not a crime, nor is reporting on such abuses," Robertson said.
"The government should release Rayhan and engage with the criticism to improve respect for human rights in the country."
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