Shoe-throwing imam's supporters seek royal pardon

Supporters of Hoslan Hussain - some with shoes in their hands - today submitted a memorandum to the Agong in a bid for royal intervention over the controversial imam’s jailing.

About 50 supporters converged at the Federal Territories Mosque this afternoon and were later led by Jingga 13 chief Fariz Musa and PAS Youth secretary Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil in a 2km march to the new Istana Negara on top of the hill off Jalan Duta.

The group, armed with banners in support of the 46-year-old father of seven, chanted slogans such as "Free Hoslan", "Uphold justice" and Pardon Hoslan".

With the exception more than a dozen police officers guarding the palace, their presence was at a minimal as only two traffic police officers guided the protesters along the way to the palace.

The memorandum, which calls on the Agong to grant Hoslan a royal pardon, was received by the palace's private secretary Mohd Khairy Abdul Rahman.

Hoslan, a former imam at Ar Rahimah mosque, Kampung Pandan, had appealed to the Federal Court on Feb 22 an eviction order from his house within the mosque's compound.

However, Hoslan, who had no legal representation, was told by the court that this could not be done as he had filed the appeal out of time.

Angered that the court would not listen to his plea, he hurled both of his shoes at the panel of three judges consisting of Zulkifli Ahmad Makinuddin, Suriyadi Halim Omar and Zaleha Zahari.

He was later sentenced by the judges to serve a one-year jail sentence for contempt of court.

[More to follow]