Malaysias Anwar Makes FinB900:B928al Appeal in Sodomy Case By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS - OCT. 27, 2014, 11:54 P.M. E.D.T.- U S A. PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia — Malaysias top court on Tuesday began hearing a final appeal filed by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against a sodomy conviction widely regarded as a means to neutralize the threat he poses to the countrys ruling coalition. Anwar was sentenced to five years in prison in March on charges of sodomizing a male aide in 2008 after the appeals court overturned an earlier acquittal. I am confident of winning the case if we have judicial independence, the 67-year-old said before entering the Federal Court, where around 200 of his supporters had gathered. Im mentally prepared, but I dont have much hope. Critics and independent human rights activists say the case against Anwar is the latest salvo in a long-running campaign by Malaysias coalition government to silence its most potent threat. The U.S. government and other Western governments have expressed concerns over his treatment. This trial is so unjust, Anwars wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, said outside the courtroom. We hope and pray that justice will be served, not just for Anwar but for all Malaysians. A verdict is expected Wednesday. Sodomy, even consensual, is a crime in Muslim-majority Malaysia and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Anwar would also be banned from running for office for five years from the day he is released from jail. Anwar was previously imprisoned for six years after being ousted as deputy prime minister in 1998 on earlier charges of sodomizing his former family driver and abusing his power. He was freed in 2004 after the Federal Court quashed that sodomy conviction. Prime Minister Najib Razaks political party has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957, but faces declining support. 自独立以来，首相纳吉的政党于1957年已统治马来西亚至今，但支持已不断下降。 A guilty verdict Wednesday could weaken the opposition and trigger tensions over who should head it. Anwar led a three-party alliance to unprecedented gains in 2008 elections and made further inroads in 2013 polls. Najibs National Front coalition won with a slimmer majority and lost the popular vote to the opposition. Malaysias sodomy law seems to exist chiefly to persecute Anwar Ibrahim, said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. This drawn-out political theater has long been exposed as an attempt by the government to take Malaysias most senior opposition leader out of political contention. “”菲尔·罗伯逊，亚洲人权观察副主任说 “马来西亚的主要鸡奸法似乎是为了逼害安华，。 “这种持久人为的政治舞台早已暴露了政府企图要迫反对党领袖安华在马政治舞台消失。”
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:41:44 +0000
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