Islamic opposition party PAS urged the government to shut down its own "Guantanamo Bay" detention camp, and said it was against Islam to detain people without a fair trial.

The government yesterday released 11 alleged Islamic militants being held under draconian internal security laws, including the son of Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

"It is surprising that the Malaysian government has called for the shutting down of the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, but is keeping its own open. This double standard must end," PAS said in a statement.

The party also said the releases showed the government had failed in an attempt to link it to terrorism by detaining its members under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

"To deny freedom is against Islam. To arrest them for up to five years is cruel and this action cannot be forgiven," it said.

Malaysia is detaining up to 80 people under the act, most of them alleged Islamic militants.

They are held at the Kamunting detention centre in Perak, which is frequently criticised by rights groups alleging inmates are routinely mistreated there.

Smear campaign

Nik Adli, the son of Nik Aziz, returned to the family home yesterday after being detained for five years.

He was accused of being a member of the Malaysian Militant Group, believed to be linked to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror network, which has been blamed for a series of bombings in the region.

Hatta Ramli, a member of the party's powerful central committee, said the allegations were part of a government campaign to smear the party.

"ISA was used to damage the party. It was an attempt to brand PAS as a terror group. It is clear this move failed with the release of the 11 without being charged in court," he said.

The government has defended the internal security laws, saying detention without trial is needed as a tool against terrorism.