A Malaysian court delivered a landmark judgment today. It found the government and police responsible for the enforced disappearances of pastor Raymond Koh and activist Amri Che Mat. After years of already lengthy investigations, they finally rushed to do this. The abductions were made under similar conditions and raised urgent alarms regarding human rights in the nation.
Masked men carried out a shocking daytime operation on February 13, 2017 that led to the abduction of Pastor Raymond Koh. This appalling crime took place in the state of central Selangor. The whole incident was caught on CCTV, and it’s easy to see the quick, military-like manner with which the shooters proceed. In response, Koh received numerous death threats and was even investigated for allegedly proselytizing to Muslims. Since his disappearance, nobody has laid eyes on him.
The story of Amri Che Mat is the same as that of Koh. After exiting his home in November of 2016, he disappeared without a trace. According to multiple media accounts, Islamic religious authorities had been monitoring him for allegedly promoting banned Shiite teachings—Malaysia being a country that officially recognizes only the Sunni branch of Islam. And six days after Amri went missing, Joshua Hilmi and his wife, Ruth, disappeared too. Both were former Muslims who had converted to Christianity—and their disappearance has disturbing parallels to Amri’s case.
The decision from the Malaysian court was the first of its kind in a groundbreaking lawsuit. This suit was originally filed by the spouses of Koh and Che Mat. The court ruled that the government pay at least 30 million ringgit (roughly $7.2 million) to Susanna Liew, Pastor Koh’s wife. Furthermore, Noorhayati Mohamad Ariffin, the widow of Amri Che Mat, was awarded the same 3 million ringgit, about $717,000.
The court made its decision by accepting the findings of Malaysia’s national human rights commission. It too referenced a special government task force that uncovered a police special branch’s role in the disappearances. Despite these findings, up until this ruling the government had never acted – not even in the years before this ruling.
“Though this will not bring Koh back, it is somewhat a vindication and closure for our family.” – Susanna Liew
Noorhayati was understandably still bitter about what had happened to her husband.
“There is still frustration because we still don’t have answers … whether Amri Che Mat is alive or dead.” – Noorhayati Mohamad Ariffin
This ruling is the most noteworthy judicial recognition of enforced disappearances by Malaysian state actors to date. It is a cause for great concern in its implications on human rights practices in Malaysia. Specifically, it highlights the enforcement of religious freedoms and persecution faced by people who promote ideas that oppose the state’s established norms.
This historic judgment may pave the way for future examinations of the state’s efforts and complicity in human rights violations and enforced disappearances in Malaysia.
