A threat to decapitate lawyer.
Civil liberties lawyer Syahredzan Johan alleged that he received a death threat via Facebook yesterday after he suggested that authorities rescind controversial India-born preacher Dr Zakir Naik’s permanent resident status here.
The political secretary to Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang posted screenshots of the threatening messages on Twitter this morning.
“So I got this in FB. Not sure what powers he thinks I have,” Syahredzan wrote.
Syahredzan also appended a screen capture of the poster’s Facebook page that identified him as a resident of Damansara.
In the message, the Facebook user threatened to decapitate the lawyer.
“You are a bastard. You expel Dr Zakir Naik, I will hunt you until I find you and I will separate that pig head of yours from your body. This I swear for the sake of Islam and the Malay race.
“If you dare, try it (chase Zakir away).”
However, in a later message, the same sender claimed to have received a warning from “Indian boys (budak-budak India)” over the threat to Syahredzan.
He accused Syahredzan of paying “Indian boys” to protect him, claiming none would do so unless there were rewarded with pay.
Syahredzan said he did not know who his anonymous defenders were but thanked them nevertheless.
Separately, Syahredzan told the Malaysiakini news portal he will lodge a report over the threat today.
“I’m surprised that someone would go so far as to say such things. I did not even ask for Zakir to be deported or extradited. I only suggested that his permanent residence be revoked.
“Hopefully, they are mere empty threats from an emotional supporter,” he said when contacted today.
The previous government awarded Zakir his PR status in 2015.
Related report: Aug 14, Just Revoke Zakir Naik’s PR Status and Let Him Decide Where to Go, Lawyer Tells Putrajaya