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change.org/Mike Stern
World News

Answers demanded over abduction of pastor

The kidnapping of Raymond Koh was caught on CCTV and Open Doors says it was conducted with military precision, implying it was a coordinated attack by trained individuals.

He's not been seen since although there is hope that new evidence will lead to his release.

Three others were abducted around the time of Raymond Koh. Christian husband and wife, Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu, were last seen in November 2016, while Shia Muslim activist, Amri Che Mat, was abducted in a highly professional operation very similar to that of Raymond Koh.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia has resumed an inquiry into the four disappearances after it was halted by police.

Last month, a police whistle-blower came forward to suggest a special branch of the police was involved in the abduction. The whistle-blower then retracted some of his claims. Open Doors suggested that was out of fear of a backlash from the perpetrators.

Calling for action from Malaysia's new government, Zoe Smith, Head of Advocacy at Open Doors, said: "The facts of this case are utterly outrageous.

"We urge the new Malaysian government to urgently address these abductions as a matter of priority; to expose the truth of the sophisticated abductions of Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat, and the disappearance of Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Sitepu; to secure the release of all four abductees; and to root out the corruption which allegedly led to approval from the highest police authorities for the abduction of individuals because of their faith."

Open Doors is also calling for Christians to contact the Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the Malaysian Minister for Home Affairs, urging them to expose the truth about the abductions and secure the release of all four missing persons.

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