DUBAI: Leading human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Malaysian government to not deport a Saudi journalist accused of insulting Islam on his personal Twitter account. The New York-based Human Rights Watch said Hamza Kashgari, 23, a Jeddah-based newspaper columnist, would face almost certain conviction and a death sentence for apostasy if he is sent back to Saudi Arabia. “Saudi clerics have already made up their up mind that Kashgari is an apostate who must face punishment,” said Christoph Wilcke, senior Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The Malaysian government should not be complicit in sealing Kashgari's fate by sending him back,” he added. The international press community has been enraged over the reports of Hamza Kashgari's arrest, with the Committee to Protect Journalists issuing a statement in condemnation of the 23-year-old's arrest. Kashgari, a columnist from Jeddah, was arrested Wednesday after arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport based on a request made by the Saudi authorities via Interpol, a source told German press agency dpa at police headquarters said on condition of anonymity. The suspect allegedly posted his controversial comments to mark Prophet Mohammed's birthday last week, outraging thousands of people who called for his execution under Saudi law. Kashgari would probably be extradited to Saudi Arabia under a bilateral security arrangement between the two countries, the source said. In Dubai, Saudi blogger and social media activists Abdallah told Bikyamasr.com that this is “part of the continued attacks against individuals who speak up publicly about issues.” He argued that if the Islamic world is to find freedom and justice, “we must be open to ideas we don't necessarily agree with. We are still a long way off from that.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/XC0Dt Tags: HRW, Kashgari, Malaysia, twitter Section: East Asia, Human Rights, Latest News, Religion, Saudi Arabia
