The families of five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) will be holding a prayer session outside the Kamunting detention camp in Perak this Sunday.

A Hindraf source told Malaysiakini that prayer session would be led by a Hindu priest and the spouses of the five detainees.

“They want to show the world that the detention without trial is cruel,” said the source.

Hindraf leaders - P Uthayakumar, lawyers M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar - were held under the ISA on Thursday.

The source told Malaysiakini that several pigeons would also be released during the function as a symbol of peace and freedom.

Hindraf leader-in-exile P Waythamoorthy has previously urged supporters to continue praying for the release of five ISA detainees and 31 supporters held pending trial for attempted murder of a police officer.

Special prayers nationwide

Last night, at least almost a dozen special prayers were held in Kuala Lumpur and Penang simultaneously.

In Kuala Lumpur, some 200 Hindraf supporters held prayers at the iconic Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Jalan Bandar, while police personnel kept a close watch.

PKR supreme council member S Manikavasagam, who was present, said the prayers went on smoothly and he gave a short speech urging supporters to remain clam.

At Simpang Empat, Nibong Tebal some 500 people gathered at the Muniswaran Temple for prayers for the detainees which lasted 30 minutes.

An participant told Malaysiakini that a Hindraf representative later addressed the crowd.

“He told the crowd that the detainees’ family are suffering and that the detainees are not terrorists,” said the participant who declined to be named.