Zara's mother, lawyers urge pause to solidarity vigils

Summary

• Zara Qairina Mahathir’s mother and lawyers are calling for a pause to solidarity vigils until the inquest is concluded.

• The lawyers, in a statement, say they are happy with the progress of the inquest to date.

The lawyers defending the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir have urged that all forms of peaceful assemblies, including vigils and solidarity gatherings, be paused until the inquest is concluded.

In a statement today, the group stated that they were satisfied with the progress of the inquest proceedings, in which six witnesses have testified so far.

While acknowledging and expressing gratitude for the widespread support they have received, the lawyers have urged a pause in solidarity gatherings, cautioning against the actions of “irresponsible parties” who risk tarnishing the Justice for Zara campaign.

“We appreciate the public support given through ‘Justice for Zara’, vigils, solidarity gatherings, and the financial contributions to appoint experts from various fields to support the plaintiff, Zara’s mother, in this inquest.

“We are also aware that several individuals have been arrested and are being charged in court in relation to speeches or comments made on social media regarding the Justice For Zara campaign.

“We and the plaintiff do not want Zara’s name or such slogans to be tarnished by the actions of irresponsible parties.

“Hence, we believe that it is necessary for all public gatherings to be paused until the inquest is complete, in line with Zara’s mother’s wishes,” they said.

The counsel also urged the public to remain cautious with their social media comments and postings, to avoid interfering with ongoing inquest proceedings via the risk of sub judice and contempt of court.

Lawyers Rizwandean M Borhan, Shahlan Jufri, Syarulnizan Salleh, Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, Farrah Nasser, and Elhanan James signed the statement.

“We believe that all forms of solidarity gatherings can continue after the inquest is complete.

“For now, let us give the court the space to carry out its duties. With patience and faith in the judicial process, the truth and justice will be served,” they added.

More charges soon

Last week, one individual was charged over the Facebook post threatening violence against forensic pathologist Dr Jessie Hiu, who testified in the inquest.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) served the second individual a show-cause notice for challenging Hiu’s testimony, which was deemed to risk influencing public perception of the inquest.

The chambers also added that criminal charges against several other individuals who had commented on the case online would be filed soon.

Hiu became a target of vitriol after testifying that forensics indicate Zara jumped, instead of being pushed or accidentally falling, while the Sabah Law Society (SLS) also claimed that lawyers involved in the case have been facing constant harassment.

Similarly, on Sept 2, a student from Universiti Malaysia Sabah had been detained under the Sedition Act, following their speech at a Justice for Zara solidarity rally, after police received 28 reports from the public following the student’s “seditious remarks.”

Zara, aged 13, died on July 17 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she had been admitted a day earlier after being found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel in Papar at 4am.

The AGC ordered her remains exhumed for a post-mortem on Aug 8, before announcing a formal inquest into her death on Aug 13.

The inquest, which has just concluded its second week of proceedings, will include testimonies from a total of 70 witnesses, and will resume for its next session on Sept 17.

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