The Human Rights Film Network has called on the Malaysian government to drop the criminal charges against our colleague, Ms. Lena Hendry, who faces prosecution for screening the award-winning documentary No Fire Zone in Kuala Lumpur without prior government approval in July 2013. If convicted, Lena could face a significant fine or imprisonment. We urge you to show your support for Lena Hendry by signing this petition.
In a letter to Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, and Attorney General, the Human Rights Film Network has expressed deep concern regarding Lena Hendry’s case. On December 14, 2015, she is scheduled to appear in Kuala Lumpur’s Magistrate Court. Lena faces charges under the Film Censorship Act 2002 for screening the documentary, which highlights human rights abuses committed by the Sri Lankan military during the 2009 civil war.
Lena Hendry is the Programme Coordinator for Pusat KOMAS, a human rights organization that empowers indigenous communities, urban poor, workers, and civil society groups through popular media. As the organizer of the annual Freedom FilmFest in Kuala Lumpur, Pusat KOMAS is also a member of the Human Rights Film Network. The charges against Lena stem from her screening of No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka, a documentary that exposes atrocities during the final weeks of the Sri Lankan civil war. The film, which reports on the mass killing of Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan military, has been shown at various human rights film festivals globally, including in Argentina, South Africa, Belgium, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Switzerland, and Ethiopia.
The Film Censorship Act mandates that all films (except those sponsored by the Malaysian government) undergo prior censorship before being shown. If convicted, Lena could face a fine between RM5,000 and RM30,000 (approximately €1,170 to €7,020) and up to three years in prison. Despite her defense team’s efforts to challenge the case on constitutional grounds, both the High Court and Federal Court dismissed the appeals, and the case was sent back to the Magistrate Court for trial. The hearings are scheduled for December 14-15, 2015, and January 6-8, 2016.
The Human Rights Film Network believes this blanket censorship is being used to suppress the vital work of human rights defenders like Lena and her colleagues at KOMAS, who use film to share important human rights issues and alternative perspectives. Such actions infringe on fundamental rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to hold and express opinions, as outlined in the United Nations conventions.
Therefore, we urge the highest Malaysian authorities and the Attorney General to: a. Drop all charges against Lena Hendry and end any judicial harassment against her, KOMAS members, and all human rights defenders in Malaysia; b. Ensure that KOMAS, its members, and all human rights defenders can carry out their activities without fear of retaliation or hindrance; c. Repeal the provisions of the Film Censorship Act 2002 that allow arbitrary government control over content; d. Uphold the principles of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, particularly Articles 1 and 12.2, which emphasize the protection of individuals who promote human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Malaysian government recently voted in favor of a UN resolution on the protection of human rights defenders. We call on the authorities to demonstrate their commitment by halting the legal proceedings against Lena Hendry, which are motivated solely by her peaceful human rights work.
The Human Rights Film Network, comprising 40 human rights film festivals globally, supports filmmakers at risk and those repressed by censorship. By signing this petition, you stand in solidarity with Lena Hendry and other human rights defenders working to expose and address human rights abuses worldwide.