KL sends back Adilur after detention at airport

Malaysia said it sent back Adilur Rahman Khan to Dhaka yesterday, with civil groups describing the treatment of the Bangladeshi rights activist as "harassment against human rights defenders”.

Adilur, secretary of rights group Odhikar, was found to be "listed among the individuals banned from entering [Malaysia]" after he arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport early yesterday, Malaysia's immigration department said in a statement.

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Adilur was due to speak at a two-day conference organised by the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, reports AFP.

Rights group Voice of the Malaysian People (Suaram) earlier said Adilur was being kept incommunicado at the airport's immigration lock-up. It also appealed for his release.

"Suaram calls for his immediate release and demands that the immigration department stop its persistent harassment against human rights defenders visiting Malaysia," it said in a statement.

Malaysia often denies foreign pro-democracy activists entry into the country without giving explanation, say rights activists.

The Asian Human Rights Commission urged the international human rights community "to immediately intervene in this case, and secure Adilur's release from arbitrary detention".

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi rights body Ain o Salish Kendra condemned the detention and expressed its deep concern over the incident.

“When rights activists all over the world are busy in defending human rights, such harassment of a rights activist is unexpected and alarming,” it said in a statement.