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Human Rights Watch condemned the six-year prison sentence handed down in the criminal trial of Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's former deputy prime minister. The group called for Anwar's immediate release.

With this harsh sentence, Prime Minister Mahathir has given Anwar Ibrahim the political martyrdom that will only strengthen Anwar's reputation and blacken his own," said Sidney Jones, Asia director of Human Rights Watch. "This was not a fair trial, not a fair sentence, and the process raises profound questions about the independence of the Malaysian judiciary."

Human Rights Watch, which sent several observers to Anwar's trial, said the trial had been marred from the outset by the lack of presumption of innocence, an essential judicial principle. Prime Minister Mahathir himself frequently expressed his belief in Anwar's guilt before the trial began. The use of the Internal Security Act to arrest Anwar and some of the witnesses; the beating of Anwar in custody, apparently by the chief of police himself, who later resigned; and the repeated interference by the prosecution with the defense all combine to put the fairness of the proceedings in doubt.

In the aftermath of the sentencing, Jones said she was concerned that the Malaysian government would try to prevent rallies and demonstrations and otherwise curb the right of Anwar supporters to exercise their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association. "We're very much afraid this sentence could be the beginning of a downward spiral for human rights in Malaysia," she said. "I hope Mahathir proves us wrong."

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