Human rights group urges Malaysia not to deport Saudi journalist

Kuala Lumpur - An international human rights group on Saturday urged Malaysia not to deport a Saudi journalist accused of making comments on Twitter that allegedly insulted Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said Hamza Kashgari, 23, a Jeddah-based newspaper columnist, would face almost certain conviction and a death sentence for apostasy if he is sent back to Saudi Arabia.

"Saudi clerics have already made up their up mind that Kashgari is an apostate who must face punishment," said Christoph Wilcke, senior Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch.

"The Malaysian government should not be complicit in sealing Kashgari’s fate by sending him back," he added.

Kashgari fled Saudi Arabia to Malaysia on Tuesday after a storm of outrage erupted when he published over a fictitious conversation with the Prophet Mohammed on his Twitter account.

On February 8, an official Saudi religious body declared him an apostate.

Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Kashgari was detained Thursday in the departure hall of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at the request of Saudi authorities.

"The Malaysian police will contact their counterparts (in Saudi Arabia) on the next course of action," he said.

A lawyer for Kashgari said he had not yet been granted permission to see his client in police custody in Malaysia’s capital, according to Human Rights Watch.

The group also said officials for the United Nations refugee agency had sought access to Kashgari without success.//DPA