Officials from Anwar Ibrahim's party say that his release could occur in coming weeks.
After talks of an imminent release, Malaysia's Pardons Board is scheduled to meet on May 16 to discuss the case of Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the multiracial political coalition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). He was jailed for sodomy in 2015 and sentenced to five years in prison.
"All documentation for the pardon petition is in order and complete," said a PKR statement. "The petition is submitted by family members and is based on the ground that the conviction is a miscarriage of justice, and secondly, on [Anwar's] current health situation."
The date of the hearing has been moved since May 11, when newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that Malaysia's king had "expressed a willingness" to grant Anwar the pardon, according to Straits Times.
The South China Morning Post reported that Anwar could be released as soon as June 8, and that a full pardon would allow him to run as a member of parliament.
This is Anwar Ibrahim's second prison term for sodomy. The first was from 1998-2004, when he was fired from his position as deputy by then leader Mahathir over allegations of Anwar's homosexuality. Anwar said that both arrests—the second of which occurred under the leadership of Najib Razak—were simply attempts to limit his influence in politics.
Anwar appears to have reconciled with Mahathir.
Homosexual sex—even when consensual—remains taboo in Malaysia.
After talks of an imminent release, Malaysia's Pardons Board is scheduled to meet on May 16 to discuss the case of Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the multiracial political coalition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). He was jailed for sodomy in 2015 and sentenced to five years in prison.
"All documentation for the pardon petition is in order and complete," said a PKR statement. "The petition is submitted by family members and is based on the ground that the conviction is a miscarriage of justice, and secondly, on [Anwar's] current health situation."
The date of the hearing has been moved since May 11, when newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that Malaysia's king had "expressed a willingness" to grant Anwar the pardon, according to Straits Times.
The South China Morning Post reported that Anwar could be released as soon as June 8, and that a full pardon would allow him to run as a member of parliament.
This is Anwar Ibrahim's second prison term for sodomy. The first was from 1998-2004, when he was fired from his position as deputy by then leader Mahathir over allegations of Anwar's homosexuality. Anwar said that both arrests—the second of which occurred under the leadership of Najib Razak—were simply attempts to limit his influence in politics.
Anwar appears to have reconciled with Mahathir.
Homosexual sex—even when consensual—remains taboo in Malaysia.
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