.jpg "Activist Fahmi Reza speaks to a reporter outside the Putrajaya district police headquarters March 10, 2021. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Shafwan Zaidon")
KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 23 — Local artist Fahmi Reza Mohd Zarin was arrested earlier today for alleged sedition.
Dang Wangi district police chief Asst Comm Mohd Zainal Abdullah confirmed the arrest.
Fahmi’s lawyer Yohendra Nadaraja told Malay Mail that Fahmi will be held overnight and police will apply for a remand order tomorrow morning.
“Police raided his house before we could arrive. They just went in,” said Yohendra.
“For now he’ll be remanded tomorrow morning and me and Rajsurian Pillai will be representing him.”
According to his lawyers, Fahmi was informed that he was being arrested on a matter related to the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
He is being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for posting several artwork and a playlist on Spotify that had the image of the Queen on it.
Fahmi has had several brushes with the law for his satirical works teasing politicians and prominent figures.
The designer explained that despite being convicted in the past for his caricatures, to him, having the rights to express oneself freely and being able to exercise his civic responsibility to speak up on current affairs remains of utmost importance.
* A previous version of this story contained an error which has since been corrected.
