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Malaysia 'dissent' blogger jailed | Malaysia 'dissent' blogger jailed |
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A prominent anti-government blogger in Malaysia has been detained for two years on charges of insulting Islam. | A prominent anti-government blogger in Malaysia has been detained for two years on charges of insulting Islam. |
Raja Petra Kamarudin has been held without trial under controversial internal security laws which could see him detained indefinitely. | Raja Petra Kamarudin has been held without trial under controversial internal security laws which could see him detained indefinitely. |
He was arrested on 12 September as part of a crackdown on dissent by the Malaysian government which is facing a mounting political crisis. | |
His lawyer said the order was "a big blow to the idea of civil liberties". | |
The BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur said Raja Petra has been a thorn in the side of the Malaysian government, using his blog to become one of its most vociferous critic. | |
Raja Petra was arrested 10 days ago and accused of insulting Islam and inciting racial tensions through an article he published on the Malaysia Today website. | |
But the arrest came shortly after he used his blog to accuse Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Razak, of involvement in the 2007 murder of a Mongolian woman - a charge Mr Razak strongly denies. | |
'Keep fighting' | |
The blogger has been sent to a detention centre in the state of Perak by order of Malaysia's home minister. | |
The order can only be overturned by the home minister, not a judge. | |
Marina Lee Abdullah, his wife, told AFP news agency: "This is the worst news I can receive, but we will keep fighting for his release". | |
Raja Petra was one of three critics of the government arrested in what the opposition said was a sign of panic by the embattled administration of Abdullah Badawi. | |
The detention is likely to lead to further criticism of the Malaysian government, both domestically and internationally, says our correspondent. |