KUALA LUMPUR – Artist-activist Fahmi Reza has been released on bail this evening after he was remanded for a day following a Spotify list deemed seditious and insulting to the queen.
According to his lawyer, Yohendra Nadarajan, the infamous graphic artist was let out on police bail at around 5.50pm after the magistrate only granted the police one day for his remand, instead of four days.
Yohendra had earlier told The Vibes that the remand order was issued by magistrate Nitya Ravindran at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters’ remand centre this morning.
The police had initially applied for a four-day remand beginning yesterday but this was rejected.
Earlier, in a handwritten note by Fahmi to fellow Malaysians shared by Yohendra, the graphic artist said it is important that expression through art be defended at all costs.
“In a country where a graphic designer is being censored, arrested and held for his artwork, it is extremely important that creative expressions – parodies and satire as a form of protest – be defended and continue to be practised,” the note read.
Yohendra added that it remains uncertain whether the police are set to charge Fahmi or classify the case as no-further-action (NFA).
The remand came amid strong protests from various quarters demanding his immediate release. Yesterday, several civil society activists held a candlelight vigil outside the Dang Wangi police station.
Earlier today, dozens of people gathered at the same location in solidarity with Fahmi, who is well known for his biting political and social caricatures, and also his documentary film ‘Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka’ (Ten Years Before Independence) in 2007.
Many carried placards crying injustice and protesting the use of the Sedition Act, while others appeared critical of the royal institution.
Fahmi was detained at his house here yesterday, just days after promoting his “This Is Dengki Ke” Spotify playlist on Facebook, believed to be a satirical take on a recent Instagram comment by the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. – The Vibes, April 24, 2021
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