Lawyers group urge action against threats towards Siti Zabedah

PETALING JAYA: A lawyers group has called authorities to act immediately against those responsible for violent threats on social media against lawyer-cum-activist Siti Zabedah Kasim (pix), who is known for her controversial views on Islam and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) issues.
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) legal coordinator Melissa Sasidaran said Siti's case could be investigated under Section 506 and 509 of the Penal Code, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Sasidaran alleged that the authorities had been selective as they only act on social media comments deemed offensive to the government.
She said no action was taken in cases involving G25 member Noor Farida Ariffin, former Bersih chairman Datuk S. Ambiga and Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah.
"It is unacceptable and shocking that the authorities are not acting against such threats and bullying behaviour against women with the seriousness they deserve," she said in a statement today.
Siti lodged a police report on Sunday against an individual who had allegedly called for other Muslims to behead her.
Siti said the first threat was posted online on July 3, attached to an article that she claimed had misquoted her on her stand on LGBT.
The same person wrote another post on July 19, attaching another article from the same portal.
Siti said among the threats made against her online were calls to behead, rape and splash acid on her face.
"Such selective and double standard policies can reflect badly on enforcement authorities such as the police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission," she said.
Melissa said LFL condemned any threatening behaviour against women, including those made with a view to suppress women's rights to speak up.
"Any disagreement on any issues, even controversial ones, should be debated and discussed, not threatened or bullied into silence," she said.