KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The director and producer of a banned Malaysian film that explores the afterlife were charged Wednesday with offending the religious feelings of others in a rare criminal prosecution of filmmakers, slammed by critics as an attack on freedom of expression.
“As far as we are concerned, these are groundless charges and we will challenge those charges in court,” he said.
The two filmmakers filed a suit challenging the government’s decision before they were charged.
Human Rights Watch accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government of prosecuting the two filmmakers to win political support from Malays.
Khairianwar has said this is likely the first time a filmmaker has been criminally charged in the country.
Persons:
Mohamad Khairianwar Jailani, “, Tan Meng Kheng, Surendran, ”, Critics, Anwar Ibrahim’s, Anwar, hypocritically, Phil Robertson, Khairianwar, ” Khairianwar
Organizations:
Home Ministry, Islam, Human Rights Watch, Free, Free Malaysia Today
Locations:
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Malaysian, Islam, Hong Kong, Malay, Asia, “, Free Malaysia