Supporters of Jailed Malaysian Protest Verdict

About 300 supporters of jailed former Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim shouted anti-government slogans in Malaysia’s capital on Friday in the first protest since he was convicted of sodomy.

The protesters gathered after weekly Muslim prayers at the National Mosque in the center of Kuala Lumpur where Anwar was sentenced on Tuesday to nine years jail in a judgment that drew widespread international indignation.

Anwar’s lawyer Sankara Nair said he had filed an appeal Friday against the conviction and sentence.

“It’s too early to say when it’ll be heard,” he said.

The demonstrators at the mosque shouted “Reformasi!” or reform, the rallying cry of Anwar’s movement that seeks an end to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s 19-year reign, as well as “Mahathir, step down now.”

They dispersed after five trucks carrying police, including some in riot gear, arrived outside the mosque.

Anwar’s sacking and arrest in 1998 provoked major anti-government protests. The ex-minister says he is the victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by Mahathir, who denies the accusation. Mahathir says Anwar sought to topple his government.

Anwar was sentenced in April 1999 to six years in jail for corruption. On Tuesday, High Court Judge Arifin Jaka found Anwar guilty of sodomy and sentenced him to nine years in jail, with the term starting when he finishes the six-year corruption sentence.

Anwar’s adopted brother, Sukma Darmawan, was sentenced to six years in jail and four lashes of a rattan cane.

“We are gathered here today to demand justice for the cruelty that has befallen Anwar Ibrahim and Sukma,” Ezam Mohd Nor, youth leader of an opposition party, shouted to Friday’s gathering at the mosque.

“What happened at Anwar’s trial clearly proves how cruel a person Mahathir is. Never have we seen such tyranny under the earlier prime ministers in this country.”

Ezam said Anwar supporters would gather today outside the Foreign Ministry, where they will seek to present a petition to the newly formed National Human Rights Commission, which has its offices in the ministry.

The commission’s chairman, Musa Hitam, had urged the government to allow Anwar’s supporters to gather in the capital during Tuesday’s verdict, in the spirit of peaceful assembly. But police rejected the idea, saying there might be violence.

Despite the police ban, a handful of Anwar’s supporters did protest after the verdict. But they played cat-and-mouse with police instead of resorting to an all-out confrontation. Eight were arrested and released the next day.

The United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the European Union have expressed concern over Anwar’s conviction and sentence. The foreign criticism has fanned worries that overseas investors might turn cool to Malaysia, pushing down share prices.

The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange’s main index fell 0.75% Friday. It has shed about 3% since Tuesday.

Mahathir has defended the verdict, saying Anwar was given a fair trial.