The friend of a human rights activist who has been arrested in Malaysia has expressed concern for the woman who was until recently a Southside resident.
Malaysian national Noor Aza Othman was detained in December last year under the country’s notorious Internal Security Act, and appeared in court recently. She could be facing a prison sentence of two years or more.
Until 2007, she had lived in Rathfarnham for five years and attended a development studies course in Kimmage Manor. She also did some volunteer work with the Migrant Rights Centre and has many Irish friends.
On December 9 last year a march was held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur by a group of lawyers to mark International Human Rights Day.
The protest called for the right to freedom of assembly but the police not only stopped the march but also arrested nine demonstrators, including Ms Othman.

Hearings took place before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court when the case was postponed until May 28.
Speaking to Southside    People, Declan Kavanagh, from Rathfarnham, who worked with Noor Aza Othman while she lived in Dublin, said he was worried about what would become of her if she was sent to a Malaysian prison.

“The conditions in Malay-sian prisons are absolutely horrendous,” he stated. “There is very bad sanitation and people aren’t allowed to wear shoes. There is overcrowding in the cells and very bad hygiene. There have also been allegations of torture and deliberate degrading of people.

“I will be seriously concerned about her wellbeing if she is sent to prison,” he added. “The Irish Government should make representations on this issue. It seems outrageous that someone can be arrested on International Human Rights Day for simply looking for the freedom to assemble.
“She is a very humanitarian person and spent all her time campaigning for human rights and for the less privileged members of society.”
Mr Kavanagh said he had spoken to Ms Othman over the phone in the last few      days.
Describing her situation, he said: “She is very distressed obviously because it is a very serious charge and she is under a lot of pressure.
“They have postponed her trial until the end of the month and she is suffering from this sense of not knowing what is going to happen, which makes it even worse.”
Mr Kavanagh added that former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, had been in contact with the Irish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur about the case and said that as far as he was aware, the department was monitoring the situation.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign              Affairs confirmed they           were aware of Ms Othman’s arrest.
“The Irish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has made known its concerns about the case and continues to monitor it closely,” the spokeswoman said.
“Together with our EU partners, we have previously expressed serious concerns to the Government of Malaysia about the use and scope of the Internal Security Act.
“While fully respecting the duty of the Government of Malaysia to ensure security and the rule of law within its borders, more could and needs to be done to facilitate peaceful protests on human rights issues. These concerns have been raised directly with           the Malaysian Embassy in Dublin,” she added.