International

Browse By:

Home » Beyond the Headlines » International

Malaysian Opposition Leader Takes Refuge in Turkish Embassy amid Sodomy Charges

July 01, 2008 08:48 AM

by Anne Szustek

An aide to Anwar Ibrahim, head of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat, accused the politician of sexual misconduct. Supporters suspect the charges are false and politically motivated.

Anwar left the Turkish embassy Monday evening after “receiving assurances of [his] safety,” he told Reuters.

A 23-year-old aide charged Anwar with sodomy—an echo of accusations made against the politician 10 years ago while he was deputy prime minister. He was ousted from that post in 1998 and jailed for sodomy and corruption. He was acquitted six years later. Some suspect he was singled out for leading protests against then-Malaysian President Mahathir Mohamad.

In a political climate colored by Islamist tension and elections in March that saw the ruling Barisan Nasional party nearly lose power for the first time during the country’s independence, Anwar and his supporters suspect operatives are working to trump up similar allegations.

“How credible is it that this healthy young man of 23 was sodomized against his will … by a 60-year-old man with a bad back problem?” asks one user on news site and blog Malaysiakini.

But Alwi Che Ahmad, a spokesman for majority group UMNO, of which BN is part, said, “Nobody from UMNO has anything to gain from trying to fabricate [accusations against] Anwar.”

A writer posting on Anwar’s official blog likened his plight to other opposition leaders forced to take shelter—Zimbabwe presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, who holed up at a Dutch embassy last week, and Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.

“The Malaysian drama can only weather on with these parallels in mind. Neither of which are complimentary to Malaysia, to say the least,” read the post.

Malaysia Today surmises that Anwar selected the Turkish embassy in particular because of that country’s current Islamist-leaning government. “This may lead to a standoff between” the two traditionally friendly countries, however.

Headline Links: Malaysian opposition leader takes shelter in, leaves Turkish embassy

Anwar told Reuters that “the sodomy allegation was a ploy to distract public attention from rising food and fuel prices and other scandals afflicting Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi’s government.” Those convicted of sodomy in Malaysia can receive a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Source: Reuters

go to site »

“Voters have already shown their dissatisfaction” with high fuel and food prices by nearly voting out the BN in March. The Economist writes, “Mr. Anwar suggests that it is now only a matter of weeks or months before parliamentary defections bring down the government.”

Source: The Economist

go to site »

Background: ‘Malaysia’s Election Exposes Religious Friction’

Malaysia’s elections in March brought light to the religious tension that has been building within the government. Ethnic Malays joined the nation’s non-Muslim minorities in weakening the power of the long-ruling UMNO party, the largest party in the Barisan Nasional coalition, of which Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is a member.

Source: findingDulcinea

go to site »

Reactions: ‘Malaysia Must Avoid the Myanmar Junta and Mugabe Syndrome’

A post on Anwar’s personal blog likened his situation to that of two headline-grabbing political dissidents: “Coming at the heels of Myanmar’s junta to extend the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi—coupled with Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s attempt to seek refuge in the Dutch embassy—the Malaysian drama can only weather on with these parallels in mind. Neither of which are complimentary to Malaysia, to say the least.”

Source: Anwar Ibrahim’s blog

go to site »

Historical Context: The role of Islam in Malaysia

The Malaysian constitution guarantees freedom of religion. One of its clauses stipulates, however, that states “may control or restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam.” Ethnic Malays make up about 60 percent of the population, and are by definition considered Muslim.

Source: Asia Sentinel

go to site »

Opinion & Analysis: ‘Malaysia-Turkey Relationship Tense in Anwar Standoff’

Anwar’s decision to take refuge at the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur was a call to foreign governments to speak out against what he sees as an unfair crackdown. His party, the Keadilan Rakyat, thought it would be a good idea to stay in the embassy out of concerns for the political leader’s security. His selection of the Turkish diplomatic mission as a safe haven is “a sign of Anwar Ibrahim’s trust in the Islamic lead government in Turkey,” writes Malaysia Today, “a decision that can lead to a standoff between” those two countries.

Source: Malaysia Today

go to site »

Users at blog Malaysiakini disparaged the sodomy charges against Anwar. One called it a “political attack to reduce Malay support for him.” Another doubted the likelihood of the events: “How credible is it that this healthy young man of 23 was sodomized against his will (on more than one occasion, mind you) by a 60-year-old man with a bad back problem? And how is it possible that this guy couldn’t fend off Anwar’s advances?”

Source: Malaysiakini

go to site »

Alwi Che Ahmad, a spokesman for majority group UMNO, said, “Nobody from UMNO has anything to gain from trying to fabricate (accusations against) Anwar especially in the current political landscape.”