Azhar Harun

Art Harun: Publications Act not effective in maintaining social order

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: The Star Online

PETALING JAYA: Lawyer Azhar Harun has slammed the government over its use of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) to ban books, saying it will not be effective in maintaining social order and morality.

“With all these books that are deemed ‘dirty’ being banned, we still have cases of fathers raping their daughters 365 times. So, does it work?

“In law, there is a school of thought that says, any law that is unenforceable or impossible to enforce, is a bad law,” he said this at the “Books, a source of knowledge, or a threat to harmony” forum on Monday (Oct 30).

Azhar, popularly known as Art Harun, also pointed out that with the advancement of technology, anyone could have access to banned publications in the form of e-books online. Read more →

Art Harun: Who’s the danger to society?

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News 

Azhar Harun (Art Harun)
Pic drawn from FMT News

PETALING JAYA: A lawyer and activist today criticised those who label individuals or groups as “liberals” or “secularists” for advocating a way of life which is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

Azhar Harun, better known as Art Harun, said the concept of liberalism was well embraced in all other parts of the civilised world, where the struggle for equality, emancipation, freedom, liberty and universal human rights is seen as the duty of every peace-loving citizen.

In Malaysia, however, those who uphold such concepts are ridiculed, threatened and seen as a danger to society, he said. Read more →

Art Harun: NRD’s ‘bin Abdullah’ move is contempt of court

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News 

PETALING JAYA: The National Registration Department’s (NRD) decision to continue the practice of adding the surname “bin/binti Abdullah” to a Muslim child born out of wedlock or within six months of his/her parent’s marriage, constitutes a contempt of court, says a lawyer.

Azhar Harun, better known as Art Harun, claimed the decision showed an utter contempt towards the judiciary, with the NRD director-general Yazid Ramli insisting on continuing the practice which had been outlawed through a ruling made by the Court of Appeal on Thursday.

“We have a government which does not respect the laws enacted by the Parliament, and then it goes on to ignore the judgment by the Judiciary.

“The rule of law, which is supposed to be executed by the court and practised by all, especially government institutions, will be nothing but an accessory,” Art wrote in a strongly-worded statement posted on his Facebook page today.

He added that such contempt only weakened the status of the judiciary and the rule of law in the country. Read more →

Malaysia’s contempt for international law, human rights — Azhar Harun

admin

Source: FMT News

By Azhar “Art” Harun

Prominent lawyer Art Harun cites country’s alleged missteps in dealing with case of Saudi blogger in 2012 and now Turkish citizens, with irregular extradition process. Pic taken from FMT News.

We keep on behaving like a country with utter contempt for laws, international treaties and human rights standard.

It is ironic that we always shout and scream about Israel breaching international laws and human rights standards yet at the same time we pay scant regard to international norms.

In 2012, we arrested Hamza Kashgari for blasphemy at the behest of Saudi Arabia.

We told the world that we did it at the request of Interpol. However, Interpol later denied any involvement.

This was reported by Al Jazeera as well.

We couldn’t care less.

Putrajaya then quickly “extradited” Hamza back to Saudi Arabia. Read more →

Art stumped by why M’sian Muslims enraged by burkini ban

admin

Source: FMT News

Art Harun says Muslims in Malaysia subscribe to the rule of the majority and therefore cannot be angry by the ban since Christians are in the majority in France. PIc taken from FMT News

Art Harun says Muslims in Malaysia subscribe to the rule of the majority and therefore cannot be angry by the ban since Christians are in the majority in France. PIc taken from FMT News

PETALING JAYA: Lawyer and social activist Azhar Harun has questioned why Muslims in Malaysia are upset over the recent ban of the burkini in France since Muslims make up only a minority of the population there and Christians, the majority.

In a Facebook post where he deals with the subject of the burkini ban, Art, as he is popularly known, said although he himself was opposed to the ban on the grounds that it went against basic “universal human rights”, Malaysian Muslims have imposed their values on other people just as they have accused the French Government of doing now to the Muslims in France.

“It must be remembered however that there are many Muslims in Malaysia who have been preaching the imposition of their values on other people.

“Some Muslims even want to impose their version of Islamic teachings on non-Muslims,” he said, citing the ban of “sexy posters” by the Kelantan Government and calls for non-Muslims not to wear “sexy” clothes during Ramadhan as two such examples.

He said the prevailing argument was that majority rules i.e. that Muslims made up the majority population in Malaysia and therefore the minority had no other choice but to follow the will of the majority. Read more →