KUALA LUMPUR: The eldest daughter of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday she had been arrested for sedition after reading out in parliament parts of a speech by her father criticising his recent jailing.

Nurul Izzah, 34, a member of parliament and popular public figure, confirmed her arrest by phone while in custody.

Read: Malaysia court upholds Anwar sodomy conviction

Nurul became the latest nabbed in a sedition crackdown by Malaysia’s government that has seen dozens investigated, charged, or convicted over the past year, including several top opposition politicians.

“I am extremely angry, and we all should be, because as parliament members we should be free to criticise the government of the day without reprisal,” said Nurul, who also has led recent street rallies against Anwar’s conviction.

Anwar was convicted on February 10 of sodomising a former male aide in 2008 and sentenced to five years in jail.

Anwar, who denies the charge, calls it a “political conspiracy” by the coalition in power since 1957, designed to thwart steady opposition gains in recent elections.

Nurul last week read out in parliament portions of a statement by Anwar, now in prison, in which he questioned the independence of Malaysia’s judiciary.

A police official said that Nurul was likely to be held at least overnight.

Authorities have warned that criticising Anwar’s jailing could bring sedition charges, and a handful of critics have already been investigated or charged.

Published in Dawn March 17th , 2015

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