On Thursday 17 May, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the chair of the European Parliament's sub-committee on human rights Pier Antonio Panzeri hailed the pardon and release of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who heads the People’s Justice Party in Malaysia.
"Mr Anwar Ibrahim made a great personal sacrifice for his country’s democracy and he is now free to participate fully in Malaysian politics", the spokesperson for the EEAS stated in a press release, adding that the EU had consistently called for his pardon and release.
In another statement, Panzeri said he would like to echo the words of Anwar Ibrahim "in his hope that this is a new beginning and a new chapter in the history of Malaysia". "I see this chapter starting with the symbolic release of a politically persecuted leader and it will hopefully continue with increased citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and assembly, both online and offline", he added.
Sentenced for "sodomy" in 2015 (see EUROPE 11039), Anwar Ibrahim was pardoned by the king a few days after the defeat in parliamentary elections on 10 May of the ruling coalition that had been in power for 61 years, under which Anwar Ibrahim was imprisoned. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)