THREE Shia followers have accused the police of acting aggressively during a raid on the group during a religious ceremony in Johor recently.

The incident happened in Taman Bukit Kempas, Johor Baru, at 11pm on Monday.

In three different police reports sighted by The Malaysian Insight, the three men alleged that plainclothes police officers acted brutally towards the group, including pointing their weapons at the congregation.

One of the complainants, Md Faizal Yahya, said he was kicked and threatened by the one of the officers, despite co-operating during the arrest.

“I was arrested outside and gave my full co-operation to the cops,” he said in the police report.

“However, one of the officers kicked me from behind, while accusing me of withholding information. He threatened to beat me up and cuff me.”

The raid in Johor was made after a similar operation by Selangor Islamic Religious Council on Shia followers on Assyura Day.

Another man, Shamsuri Johari,44, said there were also several police officers who pointed their guns towards other Shia members.

“There was police brutality such as hitting unarmed individuals, handcuffing us from the back, pointing guns to our heads, threatening us and also showing their weapons to intimidate us,” said Shamsuri in another police report.

In the third police report, another member of the group, Syed Mohd Fadlie Syed Ali alleged that the cops had also threaten to beat him up if he refused to open the door.

The three questioned the action of the police officers who were supposed to assist the state religious department during the raid.

Since last Friday, Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) have raided at least three gatherings of Shia followers, including foreigners, who were commemorating the death of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein.

According to a news portal, the Iranian embassy had to intervene after a woman was arrested in the Jais raid in Ampang.

In a statement released yesterday, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) condemned the arrest of Shia Muslims in Selangor, saying that Malaysia could not claim to be a truly diverse nation if the rights of religious minorities were not protected.

“Unless Malaysian authorities, non-governmental organisations and civil society respect and tolerate the religious practices of all persons, we cannot truly profess to be a diverse and multicultural nation.

“The right to freely practise any religion is provided by Article 11 of the federal constitution.

“Brotherhood and compassion (should) be the bedrock upon which our society is founded, rather than the reactionary instinct to hate and mistreat others for their differences.

“The right to freely practice any religion should be enjoyed by all people, without fear of reprisal,” the commission said in a statement. – September 11, 2019.