December 29, 2025 — On behalf of Shia Rights Watch (SRW), we extend our formal appreciation to the High Court of Malaysia for its recent judgments recognizing the state’s responsibility in the enforced disappearances of social activist Amri Che Mat, a Shia Muslim, and Christian pastor Raymond Koh. These decisions represent a significant judicial step toward confronting long-standing injustices and advancing the rule of law in Malaysia.
On November 5, 2025, the High Court delivered landmark rulings holding the Malaysian government and police accountable for the unlawful abductions of both individuals, directing substantial compensation to their families and ordering continued investigations into these unresolved disappearances.
In the case of Amri Che Mat, who was abducted on November 24, 2016, the court found that Malaysian authorities failed to conduct a thorough and diligent investigation into his disappearance, including a failure to seriously examine whether his Shia Muslim identity and religious activities played a role in the circumstances of his abduction.
This failure underscores systemic gaps in the protection of Shia Muslims—a community that continues to face institutional discrimination in Malaysia, where Shia religious expression remains officially restricted and Shia Muslims have been subject to legal and social marginalization.
We also acknowledge the court’s ruling in the disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh, abducted in February 2017, where the High Court held that state actors were responsible and ordered compensation exceeding RM30 million to his family.
While the compensation awarded in Pastor Koh’s case was higher than that in the Amri Che Mat case, the judicial acknowledgment of enforced disappearance and state accountability in both cases is an important affirmation of fundamental rights for all Malaysians, regardless of religious identity.
SRW recognizes this judicial outcome as an essential shift toward transparency and accountability. It reflects an increasing willingness within Malaysia’s judiciary to confront historical injustices and uphold due process in cases involving enforced disappearance and discrimination. The rulings also set important legal precedents that should strengthen protections for marginalized religious communities, including Shia Muslims, who have long faced a restrictive environment where religious practices outside the Sunni framework are not always legally protected.
Nevertheless, SRW emphasizes that judicial recognition must be accompanied by concrete institutional reforms. We call on Malaysian authorities to:
- Implement the High Court’s directives without undue delay, ensuring that enforcement actions and investigative processes proceed with full transparency.
- Address systemic discrimination against Shia Muslims and other religious minorities through legislative and policy reforms that uphold freedom of religion and belief in accordance with international human rights standards.
- Ensure equitable application of justice, including impartial investigation and accountability for all actors implicated in enforced disappearances.
SRW remains committed to supporting efforts that protect religious freedom and minority rights globally. We commend the courage of the families of Shia Muslim Amri Che Mat and Pastor Raymond Koh for their persistence in seeking justice. Their resilience has contributed to an important moment of judicial accountability in Malaysia.