I call for the immediate release of Siti Kasim who was arrested under section 186 in the early hours this morning.
Siti Kasim was discharging her professional duties as a lawyer at the time that the alleged offence was said to have been committed. When lawyers are unable to defend their clients for fear of arrest, criminal charges or intimidation, they can no longer properly defend people facing violations of their human rights.
A lawyer must at all times be allowed to advance a client’s rights without obstruction or impediment, or fear of prosecution for carrying out his or her duties as an officer of the court.