Saudi Columnist Files Application For Habeas Corpus

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabian newspaper columnist Hamza Kashgari Mohamad Najeeb, who is alleged to have insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammad, today filed a habeas corpus application that his arrest and deportation from Malaysia were unlawful. The application was filed by lawyers Muhammad Afiq Mohamad Noor and Murni Hidayah Anuar at the High Court registry here. Hamza, 23, named the Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police, Malaysian Immigration Director-General, Malaysian Home Minister and the Malaysian government as respondents. In the notice of motion, Hamza, among others, is seeking a writ of habeas corpus for an order for him to be brought before the court to be charged. Hamza's friend, Asma' Abdul Razak, 31, in a supporting affidavit, said that on Feb 4, Hamza had posted a series of tweets in conjunction with Prophet Muhammad's birthday, but they were deleted the following day from his Twitter (an online social networking service) account. She said that on Feb 8, the Saudi Arabian authorities issued a warrant of arrest for Hamza for allegedly insulting the Prophet, an offence which carrries the death sentence in the kingdom, if found guilty. Asma' said Hamzah was also declared an apostate by the Saudi Arabian religious authority. Hamza was arrested on Feb 9 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia. Meanwhile, Murni Hidayah, when met by reporters, said the hearing of Hamza's heabeas corpus application would be held on Tuesday. She said Hamza was deported to Saudi Arabia on Sunday and was now in police detention in the Kingdom. -- BERNAMA