Edict to hold annual event to commemorate custodial deaths

 

Rights group Eliminating Deaths And Abuse In Custody Together (Edict) will hold an online event on July 16 to remember those who died in custody.

"Black Day of Deaths in Custody" event will be held via Zoom video conferencing where attendees will light up candles as a symbol to commemorate the victims.

Edict chairperson M Visvanathan (above) said the annual event is important to send out a clear message that Malaysians reject custodial deaths.

"We invite all Malaysians to attend the virtual event to express their views, on why it must be stopped immediately, why we need to achieve zero (custodial death)," he said during a virtual press conference today.

"In fact, nobody should die when they are being detained," stressed Visvanathan.

Besides commemorating custodial deaths, he said the event will also remember the individuals who died of Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Edict director Farida Mohamad said the attendees may purchase T-shirts designed by graphic designer and activist Fahmi Reza priced at RM70 each and a personalised caricature for RM250.

The group's executive director Khaled Mohd Ismath said they are holding the annual event on July 16 because it was a black day for Malaysia when Teoh Beng Hock and R Gunasegaran died in 2009.

Since early 2020, Edict said it received 25 complaints on custodial deaths.

The event, which will be participated by politicians, academicians, NGOs and civil society representatives, will start at 5.30pm. - Mkini