Ibrahim: Charge or release Muslim detainees

11/10/2004 4:20:00 PM GMT

Source: AFP

Released Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim has demanded that Muslim prisoners detained without trial to be freed or charged in court.

The former deputy prime minister, who was freed two months ago after six years in prison, also slammed the U.S. President George W. Bush's anti-terror war, saying that his "radical" unilateral decisions and "arrogance" had resulted in a deeper rift between Muslims and the West.

Anwar also said that he had "no sympathies" for the detainees if there was evidence against them but criticized the indefinite detention of more than 80 Muslim suspects under the tough Internal Security Act (ISA).

Many of the prisoners are allegedly accused of belonging to Al-Qaeda but none has been brought to court.

"You either charge them or immediately release them. Some have been detained for almost four years. They have to be dealt with according to the law, not just because they are suspects and we leave them rotting there for years," said the 57-year-old politician.

"We should not allow this terrorism bogey to be used as a pretext by authoritarian regimes to suppress or oppress them."

Anwar himself was jailed twice under the ISA, first in his student days and again in September 1998 shortly after he was fired from the government by former premier Mahathir Mohamad. He was later detained on charges of corruption and sodomy.

"It is simplistic for President Bush to suggest the world is a safer place because certainly Iraq is not a safer place today. Terrorist cells are actually increasing, mushrooming," he said. "I am not aware in modern times of an American leader so much resented and hated abroad." He added.

Anwar said that he hoped to take on an international role in facilitating dialogue between Muslims and the West. He said that he had offers from think-tanks and universities in Europe, the United States and Asia and would make a decision soon.