SCHOLARS AT RISK N E T W O R K Fax: +603-88883444 Email: [email protected] The Honorable Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak Prime Minister of Malaysia Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia Main Block, Perdana Putra Building Federal Government Administrative Centre 62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia September 11, 2014 Re: Prof. Azmi Sharom Your Excellency: On behalf of the Scholars at Risk Network I write to express grave concern over reports that Prof. Azmi Sharom, an associate professor of law in the Faculty of Law at the University of Malaya, faces prosecution on charges relating to his academic profession. Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of over 340 universities and colleges in 36 countries dedicated to promoting academic freedom and its constituent freedoms of thought, opinion, expression, association and travel. In cases like that of Prof. Azmi, involving alleged infringement of these freedoms, Scholars at Risk intervenes hoping to clarify and resolve matters favorably. Scholars at Risk understands that, on September 2, 2014, Prof. Azmi was charged in Kuala Lumpur Session Court with sedition. Under Malaysian law, sedition is defined as speech that “would bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against” the government. The charges apparently stem from an interview Prof. Azmi gave on August 14 regarding an ongoing political crisis in Selangor state. In the interview, Prof. Azmi compared the current crisis to a situation in the Malaysian state of Perak in 2009, stating, “[y]ou don’t want a repeat of that, where a secret meeting took place” and “I think what happened in Perak was legally wrong. The best thing to do is do it as legally and transparently as possible.” Prof. Azmi pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and was released on bail pending trial. He spoke publicly about the prosecution, stating, “I was shocked to learn that I am being charged under the Sedition Act because of comments I made on the Perak crisis of 2009. My statements were based on established case law and democratic principles. They were given in my capacity as a law lecturer of 24 years standing.” Reports indicate that his next hearing is set for October 3, 2014. Scholars at Risk welcomes any additional information that may clarify our understanding of these events. Absent this, the facts as described suggest that Prof. Azmi’s comments were protected expression related to his professional competence as a legal scholar. Prosecution for such N EW Y ORK U NIVERSITY , 1 9 4 M ERCER S T ., R M 4 1 0 , N EW Y ORK , NY 1 0 0 1 2 USA [email protected] - 2 1 2 - 9 9 8 - 2 2 1 5 TEL 1 - 2 1 2 - 9 9 5 - 4 4 0 2 FAX http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu SCHOLARS AT RISK N E T W O R K expression would violate internationally recognized standards of academic freedom and the right to freedom of opinion and expression. We therefore respectfully urge you to direct appropriate authorities to ensure a full, impartial, timely investigation and public reporting on the incident as early as possible; to drop any charges or proceedings against Prof. Azmi which stem from his exercise of academic freedom and the right of freedom of opinion and expression; and to issue a firm, clear and public demonstration of Malaysia’s commitment to academic freedom, free inquiry and freedom of opinion and expression as fundamental to quality higher education and as essential elements of free, stable and prosperous societies. We appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Robert J. Quinn Executive Director Cc: Tan Sri Dato' Haji Muhyiddin bin Haji Mohd. Yassin Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Ministry of Education Level 10, Block E8, Complex E Federal Government Administrative Centre 62604 Putrajaya, Malaysia Tel: +603-88846025 Fax: +603-88895846 Email: [email protected] Dato' Seri Idris bin Jusoh Minister of Education II Ministry of Education Level 18, No. 2, Tower 2, Jalan P5/6, Presint 5 Federal Government Administrative Centre 62200 Putrajaya, Malaysia Tel: +603-88705004 Fax: +603-88706801 Email: [email protected] Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail Attorney General of Malaysia Attorney General's Chamber 45 Persiaran Perdana 62100 Putrajaya, Malaysia SCHOLARS AT RISK N E T W O R K Phone: +603-88722000 Fax: +603-88905670 Email: [email protected] UNESCO 7, place de Fontenoy 75352 Paris 07 SP France Fax: +33 1 40 65 94 05.