In the Name of Security:
Counterterrorism and Human Rights Abuses Under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act

I. Summary

Who They Are

The Impact of the Guantanamo Bay Detentions

Recommendations

II. Background: The ISA in Law and Practice

The ISA: An Abusive Law

Operation Lalang

The Anwar Case and the Reformasi

Religion and Alleged Militant Activity in Malaysia

Alleged Organizational Affiliations of the ISA Detainees

The KMM detainees

Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) detainees

The Johor detainees

III. Human Rights Abuses against ISA Detainees

Arbitrary Arrest and Detention

Torture and Other Mistreatment

Torture and other physical abuse

Cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment

Humiliating and degrading treatment

Coerced and false confessions

Conditions of Detention

Denial of Access to Counsel

Coercion against Families

Lack of Judicial Review

Threats to Deter Legal Action

V. U.S.-Malaysia Counterterrorism Cooperation

A Case Study: The Karachi Detentions and U.S.-Malaysia Cooperation

VI. Conclusion: The ISA––A Blunt, Ineffective Tool

VII. Recommendations

To the Malaysian Government

To the U.S. Government

To the United Nations

To the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of the Judiciary

To the Special Rapporteur on Torture

To the Counterterrorism Committee of the United Nations

May 2004   Vol. 16, No. 7(C)